Shloka 1.16.31

पायसप्रादुर्भावः — The Manifestation of the Divine Payasa and the Avatara Resolution

Devanagari script

ततस्तु ता: प्राश्य तदुत्तमास्त्रियोमहीपतेरुत्तमपायसं पृथक्।हुताशनादित्यसमानतेजसोऽचिरेण गर्भान्प्रतिपेदिरे तदा।।।।

Transliteration

santuṣṭaḥ pradadau tasmai rākṣasāya varaṁ prabhuḥ | nānā-vidhebhyo bhūtebhyo bhayaṁ nānyatra mānuṣāt || avajñātāḥ purā tena vara-dāne hi mānavāḥ ||

Translation

Pleased, the Lord granted that rākṣasa a boon: he would have no fear from beings of many kinds—except from human beings. For, in seeking that boon, he had earlier treated humans with contempt.

Context

Then the excellent consorts of the king who glowed like fire and the Sun, having consumed the choicest payasam, became pregnant in a short time.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• Brahmā
• mānavas (humans)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Pride and contempt distort judgment: disregarding the ‘small’ (humans) becomes the very opening through which adharma is checked.

What is the narrative situation?

Brahmā grants Rāvaṇa near-invulnerability; Rāvaṇa excludes humans, thinking them insignificant.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse implicitly praises humility and discernment—virtues Rāvaṇa lacks while seeking power.