Shloka 21

Adhyaya 9 — Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra’s Mutual Curse: The Āḍi–Baka Battle and Brahmā’s Pacification

Sanskrit

इत्याकुलीकृते लोके संत्रासविमुखे तदा ।

सुरैः परिवृतः सर्वैराजगाम पितामहः ॥

Transliteration

ity ākulīkṛte loke saṃtrāsa-vimukhe tadā /

suraiḥ parivṛtaḥ sarvair ājagāma pitāmahaḥ

Translation

Lorsque le monde eut été ainsi jeté dans le tumulte et submergé par la terreur, alors Pitāmaha (Brahmā), entouré de tous les dieux, vint en ce lieu.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसंहारार्थक-निपात (quotative “thus”)

• आकुलीकृते: in the confused (state)
• आकुलीकृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकुली-कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP) “made confused”; पुं/नपुंसक?—अत्र लोके इति सप्तमी एकवचन; सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• संत्रासविमुखे: (in the world) averse to fear / recovering from panic
• संत्रासविमुखे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संत्रास (प्रातिपदिक) + विमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (saṃtrāsa-vimukha = “turned away from fear”); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; लोके इति विशेषण

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• सुरैः: by the gods
• सुरैः: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• परिवृतः: surrounded
• परिवृतः: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP) “surrounded”; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण

• सर्वैः: by all
• सर्वैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; सुरैः इति विशेषण

• आजगाम: came, arrived
• आजगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पितामहः: Grandfather (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Brahmā
• Devas (collectively)

Key Themes

• Divine governance
• Crisis intervention
• Restoration of order

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

When disorder becomes universal, higher wisdom/authority is invoked to restrain destructive forces. Brahmā represents the principle of cosmic order (niyati) acting through counsel rather than brute force.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Though Brahmā is central to sarga themes generally, this verse itself is narrative action, not a creation account; it supports the Purāṇa’s theological storytelling.

What is the esoteric significance?

Brahmā ‘arriving with the gods’ symbolizes the reassembly of higher faculties (discernment, restraint, harmony) when the psyche/world is overwhelmed by fear.