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Shloka 27

Diti’s Untimely Desire and the Birth-Cause of the Asura Line

Prelude to Hiranyākṣa–Varāha

यस्यानवद्याचरितं मनीषिणो गृणन्त्यविद्यापटलं बिभित्सव: । निरस्तसाम्यातिशयोऽपि यत्स्वयं पिशाचचर्यामचरद्‍गति: सताम् ॥ २७ ॥

yasyānavadyācaritaṁ manīṣiṇo gṛṇanty avidyā-paṭalaṁ bibhitsavaḥ nirasta-sāmyātiśayo ’pi yat svayaṁ piśāca-caryām acarad gatiḥ satām

Bien que les sages célèbrent sa conduite irréprochable afin de déchirer le voile de l’ignorance, et bien que nul ne soit son égal ni son supérieur, Śiva—but des saints—semble pourtant adopter une manière de vivre de piśāca pour accorder bienfait et délivrance aux dévots du Seigneur.

yasyawhose
yasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypePronoun
Rootyad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga/napuṃsaka (m./n.), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Ekavacana
anavadya-ācaritamblameless conduct
anavadya-ācaritam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootanavadya (प्रातिपदिक) + ācarita (आ-√car क्त, कृदन्त)
FormNapuṃsakaliṅga (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: ‘blameless conduct’
manīṣiṇaḥthe sages/wise
manīṣiṇaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmanīṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana
gṛṇantipraise/sing
gṛṇanti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootgṛ (धातु)
FormLaṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana, Parasmaipada
avidyā-paṭalamveil of ignorance
avidyā-paṭalam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootavidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + paṭala (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapuṃsakaliṅga (n.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana
bibhitsavaḥwishing to destroy (it)
bibhitsavaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Root√bhid (धातु) → bibhitsu (कृदन्त, desiderative adjective)
FormPuṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana; icchārtha (desiderative) ‘wishing to split/destroy’
nirasta-sāmya-atiśayaḥbeyond equality or superiority (incomparable)
nirasta-sāmya-atiśayaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootnirasta (nis-√as/√as ‘to throw out’ क्त, कृदन्त) + sāmya (प्रातिपदिक) + atiśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi: ‘he whose (possibility of) equality and superiority is removed (i.e., beyond comparison)’
apieven/although
api:
Avyaya (अव्यय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
FormNipāta, concessive ‘even/although’
yatthat (which)
yat:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Correlative)
TypePronoun
Rootyad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapuṃsakaliṅga (n.), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom./Acc.), Ekavacana; correlating with ‘svayam’ clause (‘that (fact) that…’)
svayamhimself
svayam:
Avyaya (अव्यय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsvayam (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya (indeclinable adverb)
piśāca-caryāmconduct of a goblin
piśāca-caryām:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpiśāca (प्रातिपदिक) + caryā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc. 2), Ekavacana
acaratpractised/performed
acarat:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootā-√car (धातु)
FormLuṅ-lakāra (Aorist/Imperfect-like past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada
gatiḥthe path/goal
gatiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootgati (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana
satāmof the virtuous
satām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootsat (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅga (m.), Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6), Bahuvacana

Lord Śiva’s uncivilized, devilish characteristics are never abominable because he teaches the sincere devotees of the Lord how to practice detachment from material enjoyment. He is called Mahādeva, or the greatest of all demigods, and no one is equal to or greater than him in the material world. He is almost equal with Lord Viṣṇu. Although he always associates with Māyā, Durgā, he is above the reactionary stage of the three modes of material nature, and although he is in charge of devilish characters in the mode of ignorance, he is not affected by such association.

L
Lord Vishnu
D
Diti
K
Kashyapa

FAQs

It indicates an astonishing, seemingly improper or frightening display done by the Lord for a higher divine purpose—His transcendence remains untouched, even when He imitates unusual conduct within creation.

Because the Lord’s spotless līlās, when heard and sung, cut through avidyā—the inner misconception that binds the soul—thus awakening devotion and right vision.

Do not judge the Divine only by surface appearances; instead, regularly hear/chant sacred narratives with humility, using them to dissolve ignorance and strengthen steady bhakti.