Shloka 42

मायामृगदर्शनम्

The Vision of the Illusory Deer

Devanagari script

समुत्थाने व तद्रूपं कर्तुकामं समीक्ष्य तम्।उत्स्मयित्वा तु भगवान्वातापिमिदमब्रवीत्।।।।

Transliteration

samutthāne va tadrūpaṃ kartukāmaṃ samīkṣya tam | utsmayitvā tu bhagavān vātāpim idam abravīt ||

Translation

Al levantarse, el venerable Bhagavān vio a Vātāpi deseoso de recobrar su propia forma; sonriendo, el bienaventurado sabio le dijo así.

Word by Word

• समुत्थाने: at the rising/getting up
• समुत्थाने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुत्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• व: indeed/just then
• व: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: व (निपात)
• Form: निपात (particle; iva/indeed nuance; here emphatic)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषणम् (qualifies 'रूपम्')

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• कर्तु-कामम्: desiring to do/make (it)
• कर्तु-कामम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तुमुन्-अन्त कृदन्त 'कर्तु' + 'काम' तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies 'तम्')

• समीक्ष्य: having seen
• समीक्ष्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव (gerund/absolutive), उपसर्ग: सम्-

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उत्स्मयित्वा: having smiled
• उत्स्मयित्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्मि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव (gerund), उपसर्ग: उत्-

• तु: but/then
• तु: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (निपात)
• Form: निपात (adversative/emphatic particle)

• भगवान्: the venerable one (Agastya)
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• वातापिम्: Vatāpi
• वातापिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वातापि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Context

When the venerable sage Agastya got up (after eating), he observed Vatapi wishing to turn into his real form. So smiling at him, he said:

Characters & Entities

• Agastya
• Vātāpi

FAQs

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

Dharma is portrayed as calm mastery over deceit: the sage recognizes the hidden intent and responds without fear. Truth-seeing (satya-jñāna) precedes right action.

What is the narrative situation?

After consuming Vātāpi, Agastya observes him attempting to revert to his form; Agastya smiles, about to pronounce decisive words.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure and clarity: the sage’s smile signals inner steadiness and confident discernment in the face of deception.