Shloka 85

Adhyaya 3 — The Dharmapakshis’ Past-Life Curse and Indra’s Test of Truthfulness

Sanskrit

इति मुनिवरलब्धसत्क्रियास्ते मुनितनया विहगत्‍वमभ्युपेताः ।

गिरिवरगहनेऽतिपुण्यतोये यतमनसो निवसन्ति विन्ध्यपृष्ठे ॥

Transliteration

iti munivaralabdhasatkriyāste munitanayā vihagatvam abhyupetāḥ |

girivaragahane ’tipuṇyatoye yatamanaso nivasanti vindhyapṛṣṭhe ||

Translation

Thus, having received due honor and hospitality from the best of sages, those sons of sages accepted the state of birds. With minds restrained, they dwell upon the slopes of the Vindhya, in a splendid mountain forest whose waters are exceedingly holy.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उद्धरण-चिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotative particle (अव्यय; इत्यादि-वचनसूचक)

• muni-vara-labdha-sat-kriyāḥ: having received good hospitality from the best sage
• muni-vara-labdha-sat-kriyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + labdha (क्त from √labh, धातु) + sat (प्रातिपदिक) + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Multi-member Tatpuruṣa; overall adjective to te (they): 'having obtained (labdha) good reception/service (sat-kriyā) from the best of sages (muni-vara)'; Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम); Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural

• muni-tanayāḥ: sons of the sage
• muni-tanayāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + tanaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: muneḥ tanayāḥ); Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural

• vihagatvam: birdhood; the state of being birds
• vihagatvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vihaga-tva (प्रातिपदिक; तद्धित -त्व)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; abstract noun in -tva

• abhyupetāḥ: having assumed; having attained
• abhyupetāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + upa + i (√i, धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta past participle (क्त); Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural; with object vihagatvam

• giri-vara-gahane: in the dense forest of the best mountain
• giri-vara-gahane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + gahana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa/Karmadhāraya sense: 'dense forest (gahana) of the excellent mountain (giri-vara)'; Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी), Singular

• ati-puṇya-toye: in (a place with) very holy water
• ati-puṇya-toye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ati (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + toya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: 'exceedingly holy water'; Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (toye) qualifying the place

• yata-manasāḥ: with controlled minds
• yata-manasāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yata (क्त from √yam, धातु) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi: 'whose minds are restrained'; Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural; adjective to implied subject (they)

• nivasanti: they dwell
• nivasanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + √vas (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present), Parasmaipada; 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural

• vindhya-pṛṣṭhe: on the back/ridge of the Vindhya
• vindhya-pṛṣṭhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vindhya (प्रातिपदिक) + pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: vindhyasya pṛṣṭhe); Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी), Singular

Speakers

• Narratorial voice within the frame-story context (Dharmapakshi tradition/background)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Frame narrative
• Ascetic self-restraint (yama/saṃyama)
• Sacred geography (Vindhya)
• Merit/purity of holy waters
• Transformation (becoming birds)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse links inner discipline with sacred dwelling: even in altered states (here, birdhood), the ideal is a restrained mind (yata-manas). It also emphasizes satkriyā—proper honoring of the worthy—as a dharmic act that sustains righteous communities and supports spiritual continuity.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily it belongs to Vaṃśānucarita/Carita (narrative of persons/lineages and exemplary beings) within the Purāṇic storytelling frame, rather than sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṃśa proper. It functions as connective tissue for the broader discourse rather than chronological manvantara data.

What is the esoteric significance?

Birdhood can be read symbolically as a liminal, elevated perspective—beings who move between earth and sky—suggesting impartial discernment and swift insight. The Vindhya forest with ‘exceedingly holy waters’ signifies a purified inner landscape; the ‘restrained mind’ indicates that true sanctity is completed by inner control, not place alone.