Shloka 20

Adhyaya 48 — The Emanation of Beings from Brahma: Night, Day, Twilight, and the Orders of Creation

Sanskrit

रक्षाम इति तेभ्योऽन्ये य ऊचुस्ते तु राक्षसाः ।

खादाम इति ये चोचुस्ते यक्षा यक्षणात् द्विज ॥

Transliteration

rakṣāma iti tebhyo 'nye ya ūcus te tu rākṣasāḥ / khādāma iti ye cocus te yakṣā yakṣaṇāt dvija

Translation

Diejenigen unter ihnen, die sagten: „Lasst uns (es) schützen“, wurden zu Rākṣasas. Diejenigen, die sagten: „Lasst uns (es) essen“, wurden zu Yakṣas—so genannt nach ihrer Tat des Essens, o Zweimalgeborener.

Word by Word

रक्षामःwe protect

इतिthus

तेभ्यःfrom them

अन्येothers

येwho

ऊचुःsaid

तेthey

तुindeed

राक्षसाःRākṣasas

खादामःwe eat/devour

इतिthus

येwho

चand

ऊचुःsaid

तेthey

यक्षाःYakṣas

यक्षणात्from (their) eating/devouring

द्विजO twice-born (brāhmaṇa)

Speakers

Narrative voice addressing a dvija; etiological (name-origin) explanation

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

Brahmā (implied as creator)

Key Themes

SargaMythic etymology (nirukti-style)Origins of beingsProtection vs consumption

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Two impulses are contrasted: guardianship (rakṣaṇa) versus predation (khādana). The taxonomy of beings becomes a moral map—identity follows intention and action.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Sarga: origin and naming of species/classes of beings through creator-linked narrative etymology.

What is the esoteric significance?

Inner ‘rākṣasa/yakṣa’ can be read as protective versus consumptive tendencies within the psyche; spiritual discipline cultivates the rakṣaṇa-impulse over the devouring one.