Shloka 17

Puṣkara Invocation, the Dharma-Wheel at Naimiṣa, and the Padma Purāṇa Prologue

Devanagari script

अथ तेषां पुराणस्य शुश्रूषा समपद्यत । दृष्ट्वा तमतिविश्वस्तं विद्वांसं लौमहर्षणिं

Transliteration

atha teṣāṃ purāṇasya śuśrūṣā samapadyata | dṛṣṭvā tamativiśvastaṃ vidvāṃsaṃ laumaharṣaṇiṃ

Translation

Da erwachte in ihnen der Eifer, jenem Purāṇa andächtig zuzuhören, als sie den Sohn Lomaharṣaṇas sahen – einen überaus vertrauenswürdigen und gelehrten Weisen.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पुराणस्य: of the Purāṇa
• पुराणस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुश्रूषा: desire to listen/attentive service
• शुश्रूषा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक; भाववाचक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समपद्यत: arose, came about
• समपद्यत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पद् (धातु) + सम् (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-Kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अतिविश्वस्तम्: very trustworthy, fully confident
• अतिविश्वस्तम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + विश्वस्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √श्वस्/√विश्वस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'तम्/विद्वांसम्')

• विद्वांसम्: the learned one
• विद्वांसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक; √विद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लौमहर्षणिम्: Lomaharṣaṇi (name)
• लौमहर्षणिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लौमहर्षणि (प्रातिपदिक; व्यक्तिनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta/Ugraśravas context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: तमतिविश्वस्तं = तम् + अतिविश्वस्तम्.

Characters & Entities

• Laumaharṣaṇi (Ugraśravas, son of Lomaharṣaṇa)

FAQs

Why is the listener’s attitude (śuśrūṣā) emphasized in this verse?

The verse highlights śuśrūṣā—reverent, attentive listening—as the proper approach to Purāṇic teaching, implying that receptivity and respect are prerequisites for receiving sacred knowledge.

Who is ‘Laumaharṣaṇi’ mentioned here?

‘Laumaharṣaṇi’ refers to Ugraśravas, the Sūta narrator, identified as the son/descendant of Lomaharṣaṇa, renowned for transmitting Purāṇic lore.

What ethical or spiritual lesson is conveyed by calling the speaker ‘trustworthy and learned’?

It underscores discernment in choosing an authority: sacred instruction should be received from a credible (viśvasta) and knowledgeable (vidvān) teacher, aligning learning with integrity and sound transmission.