Shloka 20

Adhyaya 21 — Kuvalayashva’s Descent to Patala and the Rescue of Madalasa

Sanskrit

सा च दृष्ट्वैव तं बाला नीलकुञ्चितमूर्धजम् ।

पीनोरुस्कन्धबाहुं तममंस्त मदनं शुभा ॥

Transliteration

sā ca dṛṣṭvaiva taṃ bālā nīlakuñcitamūrdhajam / pīnoruskandhabāhuṃ tam amaṃsta madanaṃ śubhā

Translation

And that young girl, as soon as she saw him—with dark, curly hair, and full thighs, shoulders, and arms—auspicious-looking, thought him to be Madana (Kāma).

Word by Word

• sā: she
• sā: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); 'having seen'

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Viśeṣaṇa-avyaya (विशेषण-अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic/limiting particle)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• bālā: the young girl
• bālā: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• nīla-kuñcita-mūrdhajam: dark-curly-haired
• nīla-kuñcita-mūrdhajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla + kuñcita + mūrdhaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; 'having dark, curly hair'

• pīna-uru-skandha-bāhum: with strong thighs, shoulders, and arms
• pīna-uru-skandha-bāhum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīna + ūru + skandha + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; द्वन्द्वः (अवयवसमाहार/समुच्चय): ऊरू, स्कन्धौ, बाहू (thighs, shoulders, arms) described as 'full/strong'

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (repetition for emphasis)

• amaṃsta: she considered/thought
• amaṃsta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (she thought/considered)

• madanam: Madana (Cupid)
• madanam: Karma (कर्म) / Samjñā (संज्ञा-रूपेण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष्य (object-complement)

• śubhā: the auspicious/beautiful one
• śubhā: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of bālā/sā)

Speakers

• Narrative

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Kāma (Madana, allusion)

Key Themes

• Reciprocal attraction
• Projection
• Erotic motif (Madana)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Both parties interpret the other through the lens of Kāma, illustrating how desire projects archetypes onto persons, often bypassing careful inquiry into truth and consequence.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Itivṛtta/Ākhyāna (story psychology), not a pancalakṣaṇa pillar.

What is the esoteric significance?

Madana here functions as an inner force: when awakened, it ‘wears’ the form of the other, making the encounter feel fated or divine.