Shloka 9

Umā–Maheśvara-saṃvāda: Varṇa-bhraṃśa, Ācāra (Vṛtta), and Karmic Ascent/Decline

Devanagari script

इन्द्र उवाच चक्र पादौ वराहं च ब्राह्मणं चापि वामनम्‌ | उद्धृतां धरणीं चैव किमर्थ त्वं प्रशंससि

Transliteration

indra uvāca: cakrapādau varāhaṃ ca brāhmaṇaṃ cāpi vāmanam | uddhṛtāṃ dharaṇīṃ caiva kimarthaṃ tvaṃ praśaṃsasi ||

Translation

Indra said: “Revered one, for what reason do you praise the discus, the two feet, the Boar, the Brahmin-dwarf Vāmana, and the Earth that was lifted up? What is the purpose of extolling these forms and emblems?”

Word by Word

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• चक्रम्: discus (chakra)
• चक्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पादौ: two feet
• पादौ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• वराहम्: boar (Varaha)
• वराहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• ब्राह्मणम्: brahmin
• ब्राह्मणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• वामनम्: Vamana (the dwarf)
• वामनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उद्धृताम्: lifted up, raised
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-धृ (उद्धृत)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• धरणीम्: earth
• धरणीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• किमर्थम्: for what reason/why
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किमर्थ

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रशंससि: you praise
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-शंस्
• Form: Present, Indicative, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

इन्द्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Cakra (Sudarśana)
• Pādau (the two feet)
• Varāha
• Brāhmaṇa (Brahmin guise)
• Vāmana
• Dharaṇī (Earth)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse models dhārmic inquiry: even divine symbols and avatāra-forms should be understood through their purpose—protection of beings, restoration of cosmic order, and the ethical meaning behind praise (stuti) rather than mere recitation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra asks a revered interlocutor why specific sacred emblems and incarnations—Sudarśana (cakra), the divine feet/strides, Varāha who raised the Earth, and Vāmana in Brahmin-dwarf form—are being praised, seeking the rationale and significance behind that eulogy.