Shloka 10

Nārada Explains the Allegory of King Purañjana

Deha–Indriya–Manaḥ Mapping and the Remedy of Bhakti

Devanagari script

खद्योताविर्मुखी चात्र नेत्रे एकत्र निर्मिते । रूपं विभ्राजितं ताभ्यां विचष्टे चक्षुषेश्वर: ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

khadyotāvirmukhī cātra netre ekatra nirmite rūpaṁ vibhrājitaṁ tābhyāṁ vicaṣṭe cakṣuṣeśvaraḥ

Translation

البابان المسمّيان «خَدْيُوتا» و«آويرمُخِي» هما العينان المصنوعتان جنبًا إلى جنب في موضع واحد. والمدينة المسماة «ڤِبْهْراجِتا» تُفهم على أنها «الصورة/الرُّوپ». وهكذا فإن سيّد البصر يرى دائمًا أشكالًا شتّى.

Synonyms

• खद्योत-अविः-मुखी: the firefly-like luminous-faced (one)
• खद्योत-अविः-मुखी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खद्योत (प्रातिपदिक) + अवि (प्रातिपदिक) + मुखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: खद्योत-समाना अविः (प्रकाशः) यस्याः सा मुखी (i.e., a luminous-faced one)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb: here)

• नेत्रे: two eyes
• नेत्रे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• एकत्र: together, in one place
• एकत्र: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: in one place/together)

• निर्मिते: made/formed
• निर्मिते: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate as participle)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मा (धातु: निर्+मा) → निर्मित (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘constructed/made’ (agreeing with नेत्रे)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विभ्राजितम्: illuminated, shining
• विभ्राजितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+भ्राज् (धातु) → विभ्राजित (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘illuminated/brightened’ (qualifies रूपम्)

• ताभ्याम्: by those two (eyes)
• ताभ्याम्: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन; ‘नेत्रे’ इत्यस्य निर्देश

• विचष्टे: sees, perceives
• विचष्टे: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• चक्षुषः-ईश्वरः: the lord of the eye (presiding deity)
• चक्षुषः-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: चक्षुषः ईश्वरः

Purport

The two eyes are attracted by brilliant things like light. Sometimes we find that little insects are attracted by the brightness of fire and thus enter into it. Similarly, the two eyes of the living entity are attracted by bright and beautiful forms. They are entangled in these forms, exactly as the insect becomes attracted to fire.

Characters & Entities

• Pṛthu Mahārāja
• Bhagavān (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the presiding deity of the eyes?

This verse explains that vision is not merely mechanical—forms are illumined through the eyes, and the “cakṣuṣeśvara,” the presiding lord of sight, enables perception.

Why is the example of a firefly used in Bhagavatam to explain perception?

The firefly’s light appears from a specific source (its mouth), illustrating how perception depends on an enabling principle—likewise, the eyes are instruments through which the power of seeing becomes manifest.

Practical application of this teaching about senses in modern life?

Recognize that perception is limited and dependent; use the senses responsibly and cultivate devotion and discernment rather than trusting appearances as ultimate truth.