Shloka 66
Aṣṭāvakra’s Visit to Kubera: Hospitality, Temptation, and the Ethics of Restraint (अष्टावक्र-वैश्रवणोपाख्यानम्)
Devanagari script
भित्त्वा भित्त्वा च कूलानि हुत्वा सर्वमिदं जगत्
Transliteration
bhittvā bhittvā ca kūlāni hutvā sarvam idaṃ jagat
Translation
Vāyu said: “Breaking through the riverbanks again and again, and consuming this entire world as though it were a sacrificial fire.” The line evokes an image of irresistible force—like a flood that repeatedly breaches its bounds—warning that unrestrained power or passion, once unleashed, can overrun all limits and bring universal ruin; hence restraint and right order (dharma) are implied as the ethical counterweight.
Word by Word
भित्त्वाhaving broken / having split
भित्त्वा:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootभिद् (√भिद्)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि
भित्त्वाagain having broken
भित्त्वा:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootभिद् (√भिद्)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
कूलानिbanks, shores, embankments
कूलानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकूल
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
हुत्वाhaving offered (as oblation), having sacrificed
हुत्वा:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootहु (√हु)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि
सर्वम्all, entire
सर्वम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
इदम्this
इदम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
जगत्world, universe
जगत्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootजगत्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
वायुदेव उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
Vāyu (Wind-god)K
kūla (riverbanks/embankments)J
jagat (the world/universe)Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Geographic Context
Sandhi Notes