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Shloka 21

Hari’s Avatāras and the Cosmic Power of Pativratā-Dharma

Devanagari script

पथि सूले तदा प्रोतमचौरं चौरशङ्कया / माण्डव्यमतिदुः खार्तमन्धकारे ऽथ स द्विजः

Transliteration

pathi sūle tadā protamacauraṃ cauraśaṅkayā / māṇḍavyamatiduḥ khārtamandhakāre 'tha sa dvijaḥ

Translation

Kemudian di jalan, seorang yang tak bersalah dipancang pada pasak karena dicurigai sebagai pencuri. Saat itu sang dvija Māṇḍavya, diliputi duka yang amat berat, seakan tinggal dalam kegelapan.

Word by Word
पथिon the road
पथि:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootपथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन
सूलेon a stake/pike
सूले:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootशूल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन
तदाthen
तदा:
Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)
प्रोतम्impaled/fastened (on the stake)
प्रोतम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रोत (कृदन्त; प्र + वे/वय्?; रूढ-प्रयोगः ‘प्रो’ + त)
Formभूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अचौरम् इति विशेषणम्; अर्थः ‘शूले बद्धम्/विद्धम्’
अचौरम्a non-thief/innocent man
अचौरम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootअ + चौर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वपद (negated)
चौरशङ्कयाdue to suspicion of theft
चौरशङ्कया:
Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु; by reason of)
TypeNoun
Rootचौर + शङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष समास (चौरस्य शङ्का), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन
माण्डव्यम्Māṇḍavya (sage)
माण्डव्यम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootमाण्डव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नाम
अतिदुःखार्तम्extremely distressed by pain
अतिदुःखार्तम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootअति + दुःख + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष समास (अतिदुःखेन आर्तः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; माण्डव्यम् इति विशेषणम्
अन्धकारेin darkness
अन्धकारे:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootअन्धकार (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन
अथthen
अथ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ (अव्यय)
Formअनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)
सhe
स:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
द्विजःthe Brahmin (twice-born)
द्विजः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narration to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adharma of punishing the innocent; the moral weight of suspicion-based violence; consequences of unjust authority.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and moral order: harm done under ignorance still binds; suffering can catalyze discernment and renunciation.

Application: Due process and compassion; avoid rash judgment; cultivate restraint in power and punishment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: roadside / public way

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.142 (Māṇḍavya episode: wrongful impalement leading to curse/teaching on justice)

Characters & Entities
M
Māṇḍavya

FAQs

It illustrates how suffering can arise from mistaken judgment and how dharma requires careful discernment; the narrative is used to reflect on karma, justice, and accountability.

By showing an innocent person undergoing extreme punishment, it frames suffering as part of a larger moral-judicial order discussed in the Preta Kanda, prompting inquiry into karma and righteous adjudication.

Avoid rash suspicion and false accusations; practice fair investigation and compassion, since unjust judgment becomes a serious ethical fault with far-reaching consequences.

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