Shloka 5

दुर्वासाशापः, क्षीरसागरमन्थनम्, श्रीः (लक्ष्मी) उद्भवः तथा श्रीस्तुतिः

Devanagari script

याचिता तेन तन्वङ्गी मालां विद्याधराङ्गना ददौ तस्मै विशालाक्षी सादरं प्रणिपत्य तम्

Transliteration

yācitā tena tanvaṅgī mālāṃ vidyādharāṅganā dadau tasmai viśālākṣī sādaraṃ praṇipatya tam

Translation

Thus entreated, the slender-limbed Vidyādhara maiden, wide-eyed, bowed with reverence and graciously bestowed the garland upon him.

Word by Word

• yācitā: (she) having been requested
• yācitā: Karma (Object/कर्म) (passive construction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yāc (धातु) → yācita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; passive sense ‘having been requested’

• tena: by him
• tena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental ‘by him’

• tanvaṅgī: the slender-limbed woman
• tanvaṅgī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanu + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘slender-limbed’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• mālām: a garland
• mālām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• vidyādharāṅganā: the Vidyādhara maiden
• vidyādharāṅganā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता) (apposition to tanvaṅgī)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyādhara + aṅganā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘of Vidyādharas’ → ‘Vidyādhara-maiden’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; dative ‘to him’

• viśālākṣī: the large-eyed (lady)
• viśālākṣī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśāla + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (‘large-eyed’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• sādaram: respectfully
• sādaram: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa-ādara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘with respect’

• praṇipatya: having bowed
• praṇipatya: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-ṇi-pat (धातु) → praṇipatya (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययभाव-क्त्वान्त (gerund), ‘having bowed down’

• tam: to him / that one
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म) (of praṇipatya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Characters & Entities

• Vidyādhara maiden

FAQs

What is the significance of the garland (mālā) in this Vishnu Purana verse?

The garland functions as a public sign of honor and acceptance—an auspicious gesture that can mark consent, alliance, or the granting of a request within the dharmic social order described in the Purāṇas.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the tone of this encounter in the narrative?

Parāśara emphasizes decorum: the maiden responds only after being asked, and her respectful bow (praṇipātta) frames the act as ritually and socially proper rather than impulsive.

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

Even in seemingly personal episodes, the Vishnu Purana presents events as unfolding within Vishnu’s sovereign order—where relationships, honor, and outcomes align with the larger moral and cosmic governance upheld by the Supreme.