Shloka 78

Adhyaya 49 — Primordial Human Creation, the Rise of Desire, and the Origins of Settlements, Measures, and Agriculture

Sanskrit

वैश्यानां मारुतं स्थानं स्वधर्ममनुवर्तताम् ।

गान्धर्वं शूद्रजातीनां परिचर्यानुवर्तताम् ॥

Transliteration

vaiśyānāṃ mārutaṃ sthānaṃ svadharmam anuvartatām | gāndharvaṃ śūdra-jātīnāṃ paricaryānu-vartatām ||

Translation

For Vaishyas who follow their own duty, the realm of the Maruts (the Wind-gods) is their destination. For those born as Shudras who adhere to service, the Gandharva realm is their destination.

Word by Word

• वैश्यानाम्: of the Vaishyas
• वैश्यानाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• मारुतम्: Vāyu-related
• मारुतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मारुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्थानम्: place/state
• स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्वधर्मम्: one's own duty
• स्वधर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्व + धर्म)

• अनुवर्तताम्: let them follow
• अनुवर्तताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद; तृतीया-पुरुष? (No) — actually प्रथमा-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; imperative/optative? Form -ताम् indicates लोट् (imperative) 3rd person plural: अनुवर्तताम्

• गान्धर्वम्: Gandharva-related
• गान्धर्वम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गान्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शूद्रजातीनाम्: of the Shudra castes
• शूद्रजातीनाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्रजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (शूद्र + जाति)

• परिचर्या: service
• परिचर्या: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिचर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (as object of ‘follow’)

• अनुवर्तताम्: let them follow
• अनुवर्तताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

Speakers

• Not specified in the provided excerpt (within the Purāṇic discourse on dharma/afterlife)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Maruts
• Gandharvas

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Varṇa-dharma
• Karma and afterlife
• Social ethics

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The teaching emphasizes fidelity to one’s prescribed responsibilities (svadharma) as the measure of ethical success, presenting cosmic destinations as the fruit of disciplined social and personal duty.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

As with the preceding verse, this is dharma-śikṣā (ethical instruction) embedded in Purāṇic discourse. It is not a direct sarga/pratisarga genealogy, but it reinforces the normative order assumed throughout manvantara narratives.

What is the esoteric significance?

Maruts and Gandharvas can symbolize prāṇa/vital dynamism and refined enjoyment/arts respectively—suggesting that habitual modes of life align consciousness with particular cosmic ‘frequencies’ after death.