Shloka 15

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

Sanskrit

विधूय पक्षाणि बको रक्तोद्वृत्ताक्षिराहनत् ।

आडिं सोऽप्युन्नतग्रीवो बकं पद्भ्यामताडयत् ॥

Transliteration

vidhūya pakṣāṇi bako raktodvṛttākṣir āhanat /

āḍiṃ so 'py unnata-grīvo bakaṃ padbhyām atāḍayat

Translation

Baka mengguncang sayapnya—matanya merah berputar—lalu menghantam lawannya. Āḍi pun, menegakkan leher tinggi, memukul Baka dengan kakinya.

Word by Word

• विधूय: having shaken off
• विधूय: Purvakāla-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धू (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), from √धू (कम्पने/धूनने) with उपसर्ग वि-

• पक्षाणि: wings
• पक्षाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• बकः: the crane (Baka)
• बकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• रक्त-उद्वृत्त-अक्षिः: whose eyes were bloodshot and bulging
• रक्त-उद्वृत्त-अक्षिः: Visheshana (विशेषण) of बकः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्वृत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहुव्रीहिः (रक्तेन उद्वृत्ते अक्षिणी यस्य)

• आहनत्: struck
• आहनत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-हन् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; √हन् (हिंसायाम्) with उपसर्ग आ-

• आडिम्: Āḍi (name)
• आडिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आडि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; proper name/object

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (प्रथमा एकवचन) सर्वनाम

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Discourse marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) = also/even

• उन्नत-ग्रीवः: with raised neck
• उन्नत-ग्रीवः: Visheshana (विशेषण) of सः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उन्नत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रीवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहुव्रीहिः (उन्नता ग्रीवा यस्य)

• बकम्: the crane (Baka)
• बकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular (द्वितीया एकवचन)

• पद्भ्याम्: with (his) two feet
• पद्भ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• अताडयत्: beat/struck
• अताडयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ताड् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; √ताड् (ताडने) with augment अ-

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Devi Mahatmyam (frame-speaker not explicit in this verse)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Fury in combat
• Mythic hyperbole
• Symbolic animal/bird combat motifs

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The text depicts how anger manifests physically (bloodshot, rolling eyes; aggressive posture). It cautions that inner agitation quickly externalizes into harm, reinforcing the Purāṇic preference for restraint and restoration of order.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Not a direct sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṃśa/vaṃśānucarita passage; it functions as narrative ornamentation within a theological-epic section that supports the Purāṇa’s didactic arc.

What is the esoteric significance?

Baka (crane) imagery can suggest a ‘mask’ of ascetic appearance with underlying aggression (a common Indian trope), while the raised-neck posture suggests pride. The clash dramatizes egoic forces before higher intervention restores balance.