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Shloka 76

The Tārakāmaya War: Divine Mustering, Māyā Countermeasures, Aurva Fire, and Viṣṇu’s Slaying of Kālanemi

बहूनि विप्रगोत्राणि मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् । एकदेहानि तिष्ठंति विविक्तानि विना प्रजाः

bahūni vipragotrāṇi munīnāṃ bhāvitātmanām | ekadehāni tiṣṭhaṃti viviktāni vinā prajāḥ

Viele brahmanische Geschlechter von Weisen—deren Selbst gezügelt ist—verharren als Gemeinschaften eines einzigen Leibes, abgeschieden und ohne Nachkommenschaft.

bahūnimany
bahūni:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootbahu (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; adjective qualifying vipragotrāṇi
vipra-gotrāṇibrahmin-clans
vipra-gotrāṇi:
Karta (कर्ता) (of tiṣṭhanti)
TypeNoun
Rootvipra (प्रातिपदिक) + gotra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
munīnāmof sages
munīnām:
Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootmuni (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural
bhāvita-ātmanāmof those with disciplined/cultivated selves
bhāvita-ātmanām:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootbhāvita (कृदन्त, PPP from √bhū/√bhāv with causative sense) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural; adjective qualifying munīnām
eka-dehānisingle-bodied / having one body (only)
eka-dehāni:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rooteka (प्रातिपदिक) + deha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural; predicate adjective to vipragotrāṇi
tiṣṭhantistand/remain
tiṣṭhanti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootsthā (धातु √स्था)
FormPresent (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural
viviktāniseparate/isolated
viviktāni:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootvivikta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from vi-√vic)
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural; predicate adjective
vināwithout
vinā:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvinā (अव्यय)
FormPrepositional indeclinable (उपपद), meaning 'without'
prajāḥoffspring/progeny
prajāḥ:
Apādāna/Viśeṣa-upapada (उपपदसम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootprajā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; governed by vinā

Unspecified (context required; likely within the primary Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa narration)

Concept: Austerity can sustain spiritual lineages even when biological progeny is absent; disciplined sages may remain ‘single-bodied’ communities through tapas and seclusion.

Application: Honor phases of life: cultivate periods of solitude, study, and restraint; do not measure worth only by outward productivity or descendants.

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Type: forest

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A quiet forest āśrama lies deep within ancient sal trees. Several luminous sages sit apart in meditation, each surrounded by a faint halo of tapas, while empty huts and silent sacrificial altars suggest communities without children—only the continuity of discipline.","primary_figures":["forest sages (ṛṣis)","silent ascetic communities"],"setting":"dense araṇya with leaf-thatched huts, kusa-grass seats, a cold ash-smeared altar, deer and peacocks at a distance","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["moss green","bark brown","ash gray","saffron ochre","soft moon-white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a central seated ṛṣi with serene face and gold-leaf halo, flanked by two meditating sages; stylized forest backdrop with rich reds and greens, ornate borders, gem-like highlights on kamandalu and rudrākṣa, gold leaf emphasizing tapas-radiance and the stillness of childless hermitages.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate sages in a quiet Himalayan-like forest clearing, cool greens and muted blues, fine brushwork on leaves and bark, lyrical emptiness around small huts, refined faces showing calm restraint, distant birds and a thin stream suggesting secluded continuity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, natural pigment greens and ochres, large expressive eyes on serene ṛṣis, simplified forest motifs, a central meditating figure with stylized aura, temple-wall symmetry conveying timeless dharma of seclusion.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a devotional forest tableau framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs; sages seated in symmetrical arrangement, peacocks and deer near the margins, deep indigo background with gold accents suggesting sacred stillness and continuity without progeny."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["forest birds","soft wind in leaves","distant flowing water","silence"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhāvitātmanām = bhāvita-ātmanām.

FAQs

It describes some sage lineages as living in seclusion with disciplined minds and not producing progeny, emphasizing ascetic continuity rather than household expansion.

It conveys the idea of remaining solitary or existing as a unified, non-expanding unit—i.e., not multiplying through descendants.

The verse highlights renunciation and inner cultivation (bhāvitātman), presenting withdrawal from procreative/social life as a legitimate spiritual orientation within the text’s worldview.