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Shloka 21

Brahmā Counsels the Demigods; Journey to Kailāsa; Śiva’s Tranquility and Brahmā’s Praise

कर्णान्त्रैकपदाश्वास्यैर्निर्जुष्टं वृकनाभिभि: । कदलीखण्डसंरुद्धनलिनीपुलिनश्रियम् ॥ २१ ॥

karṇāntraikapadāśvāsyair nirjuṣṭaṁ vṛka-nābhibhiḥ kadalī-khaṇḍa-saṁruddha- nalinī-pulina-śriyam

There dwell many kinds of deer—karṇāntra, ekapada, aśvāsya, vṛka, and the musk-bearing deer called vṛkanābhi; and the banks of the nalinī ponds shine with beauty, enclosed by dense groves of banana trees.

कर्णान्त्रैकपदाश्वास्यैःwith beings of the ‘karṇāntraikapadāśvāsyā’ type
कर्णान्त्रैकपदाश्वास्यैः:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootकर्ण-अन्त्र-एकपद-आश्वास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: कर्णान्त्रं (ear-gut?) एकपदं (one-footed?) आश्वास्यं (breathing?) येषां ते; a descriptive epithet of a class of beings; instrumental plural
निर्जुष्टम्frequented
निर्जुष्टम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootनिर्जुष्ट (कृदन्त; √जुष् (धातु) + निर् + क्त)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त ‘frequented/inhabited’
वृकनाभिभिःwith ‘vṛka-nābhi’ creatures
वृकनाभिभिः:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootवृक-नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; वृकस्य नाभिः (wolf-navel; a named creature/species); instrumental plural
कदलीखण्डसंरुद्धनलिनीपुलिनश्रियम्having the beauty of lotus-pond banks hemmed in by banana-groves
कदलीखण्डसंरुद्धनलिनीपुलिनश्रियम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootकदली-खण्ड-संरुद्ध-नलिनी-पुलिन-श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग-श्री-शब्दान्त, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: कदलीखण्डैः संरुद्धं (blocked by banana-groves) यत् नलिन्याः पुलिनं (lotus-pond bank) तस्य श्रीः (beauty) = the beauty of the banks of lotus-ponds obstructed by banana-groves; accusative singular (as attribute of a neuter object described)

FAQs

This verse depicts the area as desolate and unsafe—infested with wolves—and its natural beauty (lotus-lined banks) overgrown and obstructed, emphasizing ruin after irreligious conflict.

He is painting the aftermath of the broken sacrifice to show how a sacred setting loses harmony and prosperity when arrogance and offense disrupt dharma.

When respect, purity, and right intention are neglected, even a good endeavor becomes chaotic—so protect devotional practice by avoiding offense and maintaining spiritual discipline.