Shloka 22

Pracetās, Māriṣā, Dakṣa’s Re-manifestation, and the Brahma-parastava; Cyclic Creation and Genealogies

Devanagari script

तं सा शापभयाद् भीता दाक्षिण्येन च दक्षिणा प्रोक्ता प्रणयभङ्गार्तिवेदिनी न जहौ मुनिम्

Transliteration

taṃ sā śāpabhayād bhītā dākṣiṇyena ca dakṣiṇā proktā praṇayabhaṅgārtivedinī na jahau munim

Translation

She, frightened by the dread of a curse, yet guided by her own graciousness, spoke with gentle courtesy; and though pained by love’s rupture, she did not abandon the sage.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शाप-भयात्: from fear of a curse
• शाप-भयात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाप (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शापस्य भयम्); हेतौ पञ्चमी (from fear of a curse)

• भीता: afraid
• भीता: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भी (धातु) → भीत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम्

• दाक्षिण्येन: with kindness
• दाक्षिण्येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाक्षिण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; साधन/भाव-निर्देश (with courtesy)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दक्षिणा: the gentle one
• दक्षिणा: Karta (Subject-apposition/कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नामरूपेण/विशेषणरूपेण (the gentle/propitious one)

• प्रोक्ता: having been spoken to
• प्रोक्ता: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम् (having been addressed/told)

• प्रणय-भङ्ग-आर्ति-वेदिनी: feeling the pain of broken love
• प्रणय-भङ्ग-आर्ति-वेदिनी: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणय (प्रातिपदिक) + भङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (प्रणयभङ्गस्य आर्तिं वेदिनी)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• जहौ: abandoned
• जहौ: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परिपूर्ण), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुनिम्: the sage
• मुनिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even under fear and emotional pain, one should uphold decorum and non-abandonment of one’s duty toward a revered person.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When distressed, respond with restraint and courtesy rather than impulsive rupture of commitments.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma as a lived expression of surrender to the Lord’s order (niyati) rather than mere emotion-driven autonomy.

Characters & Entities

• Dakṣiṇā
• Muni (a sage)

FAQs

What is the significance of the fear of a sage’s curse (śāpa-bhaya) in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights how spiritual power and moral law constrain personal impulses; the dread of śāpa reinforces dharma and social order within the Purāṇic universe.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of personal virtue (dākṣiṇya) in difficult relationships?

Through this episode, Parāśara shows that courtesy and restraint can prevail even when one is emotionally wounded, presenting dharma as steadiness rather than mere sentiment.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even in human-level narratives, the Vishnu Purana uses dharma-driven conduct to reflect the larger Vishnu-centered order—where harmony, restraint, and rightful action mirror the Supreme’s sustaining power.