Shloka 23

Adhyaya 18 — Arjuna Declines the Throne; Garga Directs Him to Dattatreya; The Gods Defeat the Daityas through Dattatreya’s Vision and the Movement of Lakshmi

Sanskrit

उद्गीयमानं गन्धर्वैः सुरापानरतं मुनिम् ।

ते तस्य गत्वा प्रणतिमवदन् साध्यसाधनम् ॥

Transliteration

udgīyamānaṃ gandharvaiḥ surāpānarataṃ munim |

te tasya gatvā praṇatim avadan sādhyasādhanam ||

Translation

彼らは、ガンダルヴァたちに讃歌をもって歌い称えられる聖仙が、酒を飲んでいるのを見た。近づいて礼拝し、恭しく挨拶を述べ、己が目的を成就せんとした。

Word by Word

• udgīyamānam: being sung/praised
• udgīyamānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udgīyamāna (कृदन्त; √gai/गै ‘to sing’ with ud- upasarga)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Present passive participle (शानच्/मान) used adjectivally

• gandharvaiḥ: by the Gandharvas
• gandharvaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• surāpānaratam: delighting in drinking liquor
• surāpānaratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: surā-pāna-rata (प्रातिपदिक; surā + pāna + rata)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa: surāyāḥ pāne rataḥ

• munim: the sage
• munim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); pronoun

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable verbal form (अव्ययीभाववत्)

• praṇatim: salutation
• praṇatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• avadan: they spoke/said
• avadan: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sādhya-sādhanam: the goal and the means
• sādhya-sādhanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhya-sādhana (प्रातिपदिक; sādhya + sādhana)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Dvandva (itaretara): ‘what is to be accomplished and the means’

Speakers

• Narrator voice (within Garga’s narrated sequence; explicit marker only in prior verse)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Dattātreya
• Gandharvas
• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Avadhūta motif
• Nonconformity vs realization
• Humility before sanctity

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The text challenges superficial moral judgment: a realized being may not match conventional expectations. The devas’ reverence models discernment—honoring inner attainment over outer appearance.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This is exemplary narrative (upākhyāna) supporting dharma and the authority of tapas/realization; not directly one of the five, but commonly embedded within them.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Surāpāna’ can function symbolically as transcendence of dualities and social constructs (not as an instruction). Gandharva-song indicates subtle worlds acknowledging a jñānī whom ordinary optics misread.