Shloka 15

Gift of Sudarshana — The Gift of Sudarshana: Shiva’s Boon to Vishnu and the Sanctification of Virupaksha

Devanagari script

ततः सुतं धर्मशीला धर्माढ्यं वाक्यमब्रवीत् यो ऽयं विरुपाक्ष इति श्रूयतां कथयामि ते

Transliteration

tataḥ sutaṃ dharmaśīlā dharmāḍhyaṃ vākyamabravīt yo 'yaṃ virupākṣa iti śrūyatāṃ kathayāmi te

Translation

Then the virtuous lady, rich in dharma, spoke these words to her son, who was himself devoted to dharma: “Listen; I shall tell you why this one is known as ‘Virūpākṣa.’”

Speakers

• A dharma-minded mother (unnamed in the excerpt) speaking to her son

Key Themes

• Etymology of a sacred name
• Didactic narration
• Dharma-centered discourse

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who is ‘Virūpākṣa’ in this context?

The verse introduces an explanation for the epithet/name ‘Virūpākṣa’ (“odd/irregular-eyed”). In Purāṇic usage, Virūpākṣa can function as a name/epithet for a powerful being (often associated with Śaiva contexts), but here the narrative is about to supply the specific local reason for the name within Adhyāya 56.

Why does the text emphasize both mother and son as dharmic?

By marking both speaker and listener as dharma-grounded, the Purāṇa frames the forthcoming account as authoritative and ethically instructive, not merely entertaining—typical of māhātmya sections that justify a name, place, or rite through exemplary narration.

Is there any tirtha or geographic marker in this verse?

No. This verse is a narrative hinge (a ‘now I will explain’ formula). Geographic/tīrtha identifiers typically appear in the surrounding verses of the māhātmya, not in this introductory line.