Shloka 39

Adhyaya 49 — Primordial Human Creation, the Rise of Desire, and the Origins of Settlements, Measures, and Agriculture

Sanskrit

द्वे वितस्ती तथा हस्तो ब्राह्म्यतीर्थादिवेष्टनः ।

चतुर्हस्तं धनुर्दण्डो नाडिकायुगमेव च ॥

Transliteration

dve vitastī tathā hasto brāhmyatīrthādi-veṣṭanaḥ | catur-hastaṃ dhanur-daṇḍo nāḍikā-yugam eva ca ||

Translation

दो वितस्ति से एक हस्त (हाथ/क्यूबिट) होता है, जिसे ब्रह्मतीर्थ आदि से लपेटकर मापा जाता है। चार हस्त का धनुष/दण्ड (डंडा) होता है; और नाड़िका के युग्म का भी उल्लेख किया गया है।

Word by Word

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; संख्या-विशेषणम्

• वितस्ती: two spans (vitastis)
• वितस्ती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वितस्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (thus/likewise)

• हस्तः: a hasta (cubit)
• हस्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; परिमाण-शब्दः

• ब्राह्म्यतीर्थादिवेष्टनः: (a hasta) measured by wrapping from the brāhmya-tīrtha etc.
• ब्राह्म्यतीर्थादिवेष्टनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्म्यतीर्थ + आदि + वेष्टन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः: (ब्राह्म्यतीर्थ-आदि)-वेष्टनः = ‘wrapping/encircling from the brāhmya-tīrtha etc.’ (आदि-समास-प्रयोगः)

• चतुर्हस्तम्: four hastas
• चतुर्हस्तम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः: चतुर्हस्तम् (four hastas)

• धनुःदण्डः: a dhanurdaṇḍa (bow-staff measure)
• धनुःदण्डः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: धनुषः दण्डः (bow-staff; measure called dhanurdaṇḍa)

• नाडिकायुगम्: a pair of nāḍikās
• नाडिकायुगम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाडिका + युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: नाडिकायाः युगम् (a pair of nāḍikās)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speakers

• Not explicitly indicated in the provided excerpt (likely within the Purāṇic didactic narration)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Metrology
• Body-markers in measurement
• Length and (briefly) time units

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Knowledge is presented as operational: even sacred anatomy (hand ‘tīrthas’) becomes a pragmatic reference for standardization, blending ritual culture with civic utility.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Supports descriptive cosmography and social order (Sarga/Sthiti-related material); not a primary focus on Pratisarga/Vaṃśa/Manvantara.

What is the esoteric significance?

Linking ‘tīrthas’ on the hand with measurement suggests sanctification of action (karma): the hand that performs rites and labor is also the instrument of ordering space and time.