Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 70

Nāgendra–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda: Praśna-vidhi and Dharmic Approach on the Gomatī Riverbank

रजस्तमोविष्टतनू तावुभौ मधुकैटभौ । ब्रह्मणोपचितिं कुर्वन्‌ जघान मधुसूदन:

rajastamoviṣṭatanū tāv ubhau madhukaiṭabhau | brahmaṇopacitiṁ kurvan jaghāna madhusūdanaḥ ||

ヴァイシャṃパーヤナは言った。ラジャスとタマスに身を染めたその二人、マドゥとカイタバは、ブラフマーの目的と安寧を支え奉るため、マドゥスーダナによって討たれた。

रजस्तमोविष्टतनूwhose bodies were pervaded by rajas and tamas
रजस्तमोविष्टतनू:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootरजस्-तमस्-विष्ट-तनु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
तौthose two
तौ:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
उभौboth
उभौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootउभ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
मधुकैटभौMadhu and Kaiṭabha
मधुकैटभौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमधु + कैटभ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
ब्रह्मणःof Brahmā
ब्रह्मणः:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
उपचितिम्increase, prosperity (benefit)
उपचितिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootउपचिति
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
कुर्वन्doing, bringing about
कुर्वन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
Formशतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
जघानslew, killed
जघान:
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
मधुसूदनःMadhusūdana (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
मधुसूदनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमधुसूदन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

वैशग्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśaṃpāyana
M
Madhu
K
Kaiṭabha
B
Brahmā
M
Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)

Educational Q&A

The verse frames divine violence as ethically justified when it restores cosmic order: beings dominated by rajas and tamas become disruptive, and the Lord acts to protect Brahmā’s work of creation and the welfare of the world.

Vaiśaṃpāyana recounts that Viṣṇu—called Madhusūdana—killed the two asuras Madhu and Kaiṭabha, whose nature was steeped in rajas and tamas, in order to secure Brahmā’s safety and the continuation of creation.