Shloka 8

Devanagari script

दिग्दन्तिनां दन्तभूमिः स च कस्मान् निरूपितः संशोषको ऽनिलश् चास्य प्रयुक्तः किं महासुरैः

Transliteration

digdantināṃ dantabhūmiḥ sa ca kasmān nirūpitaḥ saṃśoṣako 'nilaś cāsya prayuktaḥ kiṃ mahāsuraiḥ

Translation

Why was the ‘tooth-ground’ allotted to the elephants of the directions, and for what purpose was the drying wind set in motion? By what design did the great Asuras employ this?

Word by Word

• दिग्दन्तिनाम्: of the elephants of the quarters
• दिग्दन्तिनाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + दन्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दिशां दन्तिनः)

• दन्तभूमिः: tooth-ground/land of tusks
• दन्तभूमिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दन्तानां भूमिः/दन्तस्य भूमिः)

• सः: he/that
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• कस्मात्: why/from what cause
• कस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• निरूपितः: appointed/assigned
• निरूपितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि+√रूप्/√रूपय् (धातु) → निरूपित (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त

• संशोषकः: a desiccator/dryer
• संशोषकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्+√शुष् (धातु) → संशोषक (कृदन्त; ण्वुल्/क)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्तरि कृदन्त (agent noun: ‘dryer’)

• अनिलः: wind
• अनिलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

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

• अस्य: of him/for him
• अस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रयुक्तः: employed/applied
• प्रयुक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र+√युज् (धातु) → प्रयुक्त (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त

• किम्: why/what
• किम्: Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• महासुरैः: by great demons
• महासुरैः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान्तः असुराः)

Speaker

Maitreya (questioning Sage Parāśara)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: How the ‘tooth-ground’ of the directional elephants and a desiccating wind were employed by great Asuras

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: analytical, wonder-struck

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Persecution

Bhakti Quality: equanimity and reliance on divine protection

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Digdantins (Directional Elephants)
• Mahāsuras (Great Asuras)

FAQs

What is the significance of the directional elephants (digdantins) in the Vishnu Purana?

They function as cosmic supports and guardians of the directions, part of the Purāṇic mapping of space that explains how the world is ordered and stabilized.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of forces like wind (anila) in cosmology?

In this section, such forces are treated as appointed cosmic functions—elements that can uphold order or, when redirected in a narrative of conflict, become instruments of disruption.

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

Even when Asuras appear to manipulate cosmic mechanisms, the Purāṇic worldview ultimately places sovereignty with Vishnu as the supreme regulator of order, within whom cosmic functions find their proper purpose.