Shloka 7

Adhyaya 81 — Suratha and Samadhi Seek Sage Medhas; Introduction to Mahamaya and the Madhukaitabha Origin Account

Sanskrit

अमात्यैर्बलिभिर्दुष्टैर्दुर्बलस्य दुरात्मभिः ।

कोषो बलञ्चापहृतं तत्रापि स्वपुरे ततः ॥

Transliteration

amātyair balibhir duṣṭair durbalasya durātmabhiḥ |

koṣo balañ cāpahṛtaṃ tatrāpi svapure tataḥ ||

Translation

ثم حتى في مدينته نفسها، سُلبت خزائنه وجيشه على يد وزراء أشرار أقوياء ذوي نيات خبيثة، مستغلّين ضعفه.

Word by Word

• amātyaiḥ: by ministers
• amātyaiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता) in passive (agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amātya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• balibhiḥ: powerful
• balibhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; agrees with amātyaiḥ

• duṣṭaiḥ: wicked
• duṣṭaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; agrees with amātyaiḥ

• durbalasya: of the weak (king)
• durbalasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durbala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; used substantively for the king

• durātmabhiḥ: by evil-souled (men)
• durātmabhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) / Kartṛ (कर्ता) in passive
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; used substantively; agrees with amātyaiḥ

• koṣaḥ: treasury
• koṣaḥ: Karma (कर्म) (patient in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: koṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• balam: army/strength
• balam: Karma (कर्म) (patient in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• apahṛtam: was taken away
• apahṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया) (passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-√hṛ (हृ, धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative, Singular; predicate for koṣaḥ/balam (collectively)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, locative adverb (देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• api: also/even
• api: Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात)

• sva-pure: in his own city
• sva-pure: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; karmadhāraya: 'in his own city'

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

Speakers

• Narrator within the Devi Mahatmyam frame

Key Themes

• Betrayal
• Loss of resources
• Political dharma and corruption

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Adharma within one’s own circle can be more destructive than external enemies; governance requires vigilance, integrity, and alignment of counselors with dharma.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Vaṃśānucarita in service of dharma-upadeśa: royal narrative functions as an exemplum illustrating decline through hostile forces and inner corruption.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Ministers’ can symbolize the senses and sub-minds; when they become ‘durātmā’, they plunder the treasury of vitality and the army of resolve.