Shloka 7

रसातल-वर्णनम्

Rasātala Description: Surabhi, Phenapāḥ, and the Directional Cows

Devanagari script

नामानि चैषां वक्ष्यामि यथा प्राधान्यत: शृणु । मातले श्लाघ्यमेतद्धि कुलं विष्णुपरिग्रहम्‌

Transliteration

nāmāni caiṣāṃ vakṣyāmi yathā prādhānyataḥ śṛṇu | mātale ślāghyam etad dhi kulaṃ viṣṇuparigraham ||

Translation

Wahai Mātali, kini akan kusebutkan nama-nama yang terkemuka di antara mereka—dengarkanlah menurut urutannya. Sungguh, wangsa ini patut dipuji, sebab berada dalam lindungan dan naungan Dewa Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• नामानि: names
• नामानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एषाम्: of these (persons)
• एषाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• वक्ष्यामि: I shall tell
• वक्ष्यामि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यथा: as / in the manner (that)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• प्राधान्यतः: by priority; chiefly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राधान्य

• शृणु: hear; listen
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Imperative (Loṭ), 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मातले: O Mātali
• Type: Noun (Proper name)
• Root: मातलि
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• श्लाघ्यम्: praiseworthy
• श्लाघ्यम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लाघ्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• एतत्: this
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• हि: indeed; for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• कुलम्: family; lineage
• कुलम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• विष्णु-परिग्रहम्: having Viṣṇu as protector/guardian; under Viṣṇu’s patronage
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु-परिग्रह
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Mātali
• Viṣṇu

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True eminence of a lineage is grounded not merely in power or fame but in alignment with the divine—being ‘under Viṣṇu’s protection’ implies a standard of dharmic worthiness and spiritual legitimacy.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada addresses Mātali and announces that he will list the principal names among a certain group or clan, emphasizing beforehand that their family is especially commendable because of its association with and protection by Lord Viṣṇu.