Shloka 21

प्रोचुः किं कार्यमधुनास्माभिः शत्रु प्रतापितैः । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तेषां देवानां गुरुरब्रवीत् ॥ २१ ॥

procuḥ kiṃ kāryamadhunāsmābhiḥ śatru pratāpitaiḥ | tacchrutvā vacanaṃ teṣāṃ devānāṃ gururabravīt || 21 ||

তারা বলল—“শত্রুর প্রতাপে পীড়িত আমরা এখন কী করব?” তাদের কথা শুনে দেবগণের গুরু বললেন।

प्रोचुःsaid/spoke
प्रोचुः:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + वच् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन
किम्what?
किम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; interrogative
कार्यम्to be done / task
कार्यम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
अधुनाnow
अधुना:
Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअधुना (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (now)
अस्माभिःby us
अस्माभिः:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन
शत्रुO enemy-(subduer)! / O foe!
शत्रु:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootशत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here used as संबोधन/उद्देश्य (vocative-like address) to the guru
प्रतापितैःafflicted/tormented
प्रतापितैः:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootप्र + तप् (धातु)
Formक्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally, पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; agrees with ‘अस्माभिः’ (we who are afflicted/tormented)
तत्that
तत्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
श्रुत्वाhaving heard
श्रुत्वा:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having heard’
वचनम्speech/words
वचनम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootवचन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
तेषाम्of them
तेषाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, बहुवचन
देवानाम्of the gods
देवानाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन
गुरुःthe teacher (Bṛhaspati)
गुरुः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootगुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
अब्रवीत्said
अब्रवीत्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू (धातु)
Formलङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Narrator (describing the devas speaking; then Bṛhaspati begins to speak)

Vrata: none

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"karuna","secondary_rasa":"bhayanaka","emotional_journey":"The devas voice helplessness and sorrow under oppression; the mood pivots toward guidance as their guru prepares to answer."}

D
Devas
S
Shatru (enemy)
B
Brihaspati (Devaguru)

FAQs

It highlights humility and surrender to right counsel: when overwhelmed by hostile forces, the devas turn to their guru, indicating that dharmic guidance is the first refuge in crisis.

Indirectly, it models the bhakti attitude of seeking shelter—approaching a worthy guide (guru) when one’s own power fails, which parallels taking refuge in the Lord and His instructions.

No specific Vedanga is taught in this verse; it sets up a guru’s instruction, a common Purana framework where right decision-making may later involve mantra, ritual procedure, or dharmic strategy.