Shloka 54
Narrative of King Pṛthu: Chastising and Milking the Earth
तद्बलं पौरुषं तेषां तेन जीवंति दानवाः । तयैते माययाद्यापि सर्वमाया द्विजोत्तमाः
tadbalaṃ pauruṣaṃ teṣāṃ tena jīvaṃti dānavāḥ | tayaite māyayādyāpi sarvamāyā dvijottamāḥ
その力――すなわち彼らの雄々しき武勇――によってダーナヴァらは生きながらえる。まさにそのマーヤーの力により、彼らは今なお一切の存在を惑わす、ああ、二度生まれし者の最勝よ。
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses; likely a narrator addressing a brāhmaṇa interlocutor).
Concept: Asuric vitality is sustained by prowess and illusion; māyā remains operative across ages, demanding vigilance and spiritual anchoring.
Application: Treat charisma, strength, and persuasive narratives as potentially māyic; verify with śāstra, sādhus, and inner ethics before following.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A learned brāhmaṇa stands at the edge of a vast mirage-like landscape where towering Dānavas draw strength from a dark, shimmering aura. The aura spreads like a net over villages, forests, and palaces, subtly distorting faces and paths—signifying 'sarva-māyā' that still deludes the world.","primary_figures":["Dānavas (collective)","A brāhmaṇa sage (dvijottama)","Personified Māyā (as a net/veil)"],"setting":"A panoramic earthly realm transitioning into an illusory haze—half clear, half refracted—suggesting ongoing influence in the present age.","lighting_mood":"twilight haze","color_palette":["ashen blue","sepia brown","pale gold","shadow purple","mist white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central brāhmaṇa with palm-leaf manuscript and japa-mālā, facing a row of imposing dānavas; māyā shown as gold-leaf lattice veil overlaying the scene; ornate borders, rich maroon and green textiles, embossed gold net patterns symbolizing delusion.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: gentle sage figure in the foreground, distant dānavas partially obscured by translucent washes; fine detailing of the 'veil' as gauzy layers over landscape; cool blues and soft golds, contemplative mood with lyrical clouds.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines; sage with large expressive eyes, dānavas behind with stylized musculature; māyā as patterned bands across the mural; warm reds/yellows with green accents, temple-wall framing motifs.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: the world as a circular mandala, with a net-like floral lattice (māyā) overlaying it; dānavas at the outer ring, a sage at the center; lotus borders, deep blue and gold, intricate repetitive patterning to evoke pervasive illusion."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft tanpura drone","temple bells (faint)","night insects","silence between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तद्बलं = तत् + बलम्; तयैते = तया + एते (आ + ए → ऐ); माययाद्यापि = मायया + अद्यापि (आ + अ → आ)
FAQs
In Purāṇic usage, Dānavas are a class of powerful anti-god beings (often grouped with Daityas/Asuras) known for strength, ambition, and the use of māyā (illusion) in conflict with devas and sages.
It presents māyā as an effective force of delusion that can influence “all” beings, functioning as a strategic power that enables the Dānavas to persist and prevail in certain contexts.
The verse cautions that mere power and cleverness—especially when allied with deception—can sustain unrighteous forces; discernment (viveka) and dharmic clarity are therefore necessary to avoid being misled.