Shloka 2

Vrata–Dāna Compendium at Puṣkara: Puṣpavāhana’s Account and the Ṣaṣṭhī-vrata Purification Rite

Devanagari script

माहात्म्यं मध्यमस्यापि ऋषिभिः परिकीर्तितम् । फलं चान्नस्य कथितं माहात्म्यं च दमस्य तु

Transliteration

māhātmyaṃ madhyamasyāpi ṛṣibhiḥ parikīrtitam | phalaṃ cānnasya kathitaṃ māhātmyaṃ ca damasya tu

Translation

Auch die ṛṣis haben die Größe des „mittleren Weges“, der Mäßigung, verkündet. Sie sprachen von der Frucht rechter Nahrung und ebenso von der Größe der Selbstzucht.

Word by Word

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness, glory
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भाववाचकसंज्ञा

• मध्यमस्य: of the middle (one/grade)
• मध्यमस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); अर्थः ‘also/even’

• ऋषिभिः: by sages
• ऋषिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• परिकीर्तितम्: proclaimed, extolled
• परिकीर्तितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि+कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘is proclaimed’

• फलम्: fruit, result
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्नस्य: of food
• अन्नस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• कथितम्: told, stated
• कथितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘is told’

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness, glory
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• दमस्य: of self-control
• दमस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); विरोध/विशेषार्थक ‘but/indeed’

Speaker

Unspecified (narratorial verse within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: मध्यमस्यापि = मध्यमस्य + अपि; चान्नस्य = च + अन्नस्य. परिकीर्तितम्/कथितम् are kta-forms used predicatively (passive sense).

FAQs

What does this verse teach about the ‘middle’ (madhyama)?

It praises moderation—avoiding extremes—and presents it as a praised, sage-endorsed approach to right living.

Why does the verse mention food (anna) alongside self-restraint (dama)?

It links disciplined living to disciplined consumption: right sustenance supports spiritual and ethical stability, while self-control governs desire and conduct.

What is the ethical lesson emphasized here?

Ethical progress is grounded in everyday discipline: moderation, mindful nourishment, and self-restraint are presented as worthy and spiritually fruitful.