Shloka 21

The Glory of Lamp-Donation

in Kārttika

Devanagari script

आगतास्तं समानेतुं बबंधुश्चर्मरज्जुभिः । यावन्नेतुं मनश्चक्रुः शंखचक्रगदाधराः

Transliteration

āgatāstaṃ samānetuṃ babaṃdhuścarmarajjubhiḥ | yāvannetuṃ manaścakruḥ śaṃkhacakragadādharāḥ

Translation

Llegaron para apresarlo y lo ataron con correas de cuero. Pero cuando ya se disponían a llevárselo, se manifestó el Señor, portador de la caracola, el disco y la maza.

Word by Word

• आगताः: having come
• आगताः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकालिक-क्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; दूताः (अनुक्त) इति कर्तृविशेषण

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

• समानेतुम्: to bring (him)
• समानेतुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + नी (धातु) + तुमुन् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive): 'to bring/lead together'

• बबन्धुः: they bound
• बबन्धुः: Kriya (Main verb/मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परोक्षभूत/Perfect: 'they bound'

• चर्मरज्जुभिः: with leather ropes
• चर्मरज्जुभिः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + रज्जु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (चर्मणः रज्जवः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• यावत्: until
• यावत्: Adhikarana (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative: 'as long as/until')

• नेतुम्: to take (him)
• नेतुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु) + तुमुन् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive): 'to lead/take'

• मनः: mind / intention
• मनः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चक्रुः: they resolved
• चक्रुः: Kriya (Main verb/मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परोक्षभूत/Perfect: 'they made' (idiom: 'made up their mind')

• शंखचक्रगदाधराः: bearers of conch, discus, and mace
• शंखचक्रगदाधराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंख (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (शंखं चक्रं गदां च धरन्ति ये); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (विष्णुदूताः) इति कर्तृविशेषण

Speaker

Narratorial voice (contextual; verse is descriptive rather than direct speech)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: आगतास्तं = आगताः + तम्; बबंधुश्चर्मरज्जुभिः = बबन्धुः + चर्मरज्जुभिः; मनश्चक्रुः = मनः + चक्रुः; शंखचक्रगदाधराः is a बहुव्रीहि (implied: विष्णुदूताः) contrasting with previous दूताः.

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

Who is meant by “the bearer of conch, discus, and mace” in this verse?

It is a standard epithet of Lord Viṣṇu (Nārāyaṇa), identifying him through his iconic emblems: śaṅkha (conch), cakra (discus), and gadā (mace).

What is the central message conveyed by this scene of binding and rescue?

The verse highlights divine intervention: when harm is about to be done, Viṣṇu’s presence signifies protection and the overturning of injustice at a critical moment.

What ethical lesson can be drawn from the act of binding someone “with leather thongs”?

It underscores the cruelty of coercion and wrongful seizure, implying that oppressive acts invite correction—here shown through the appearance of divine authority and protection.