Shloka 16

Adhyaya 19 — Kartavirya Arjuna at Dattatreya’s Ashram: Boons, Sovereignty, and Vaishnava Praise

Sanskrit

असङ्गा गतयः सन्तु शैलाकाशाम्बु-भूमिषु ।

पातालेषु च सर्वेषु वधश्चाप्यधिकान्नरात् ॥

Transliteration

asaṅgā gatayaḥ santu śailākāśāmbu-bhūmiṣu /

pātāleṣu ca sarveṣu vadhaś cāpy adhikān narāt

Translation

山においても、空においても、水の中においても、地上においても、我が行動が妨げられませんように。さらに一切の地下界においても同様でありますように。また、力において勝る者すらも討ち得る威力を授け給え。

Word by Word

• असङ्गाः: unobstructed
• असङ्गाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; विशेषण of ‘गतयः’

• गतयः: movements/paths
• गतयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• सन्तु: let there be
• सन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: Imperative/benedictive sense (लोट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• शैल-आकाश-अम्बु-भूमिषु: on mountains, in the sky, in waters, and on the earth
• शैल-आकाश-अम्बु-भूमिषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक) + आकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक) + भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; द्वन्द्व-समास (शैलेषु च आकाशेषु च अम्बुषु च भूमिषु च)

• पातालेषु: in the netherworlds
• पातालेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• सर्वेषु: in all
• सर्वेषु: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; विशेषण of ‘पातालेषु’

• वधः: slaying
• वधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• अधिकात्: from a superior (one)
• अधिकात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; comparative sense “from one superior/greater”

• नरात्: from a man
• नरात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

Speakers

• Kārtavīrya speaking (to Dattātreya)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Dattātreya
• Kārtavīrya Arjuna

Key Themes

• Sovereign mobility
• Conquest
• Mythic superpowers
• Protection of realm

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The king’s duty to protect requires reach and responsiveness; the requested ‘unhindered movement’ mythologizes administrative and military readiness across all terrains.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita: narrative amplification of royal capability, explaining later feats attributed to the king.

What is the esoteric significance?

Movement through mountain/sky/water/earth/netherworlds maps to mastery over the ‘elements’ and domains—symbolic of comprehensive sovereignty over all layers of a kingdom and psyche.