Shloka 38

Adhyaya 81 — Suratha and Samadhi Seek Sage Medhas; Introduction to Mahamaya and the Madhukaitabha Origin Account

Sanskrit

ज्ञानेऽपि सति पश्यैतान् पतङ्गाञ्छावचञ्चुषु ।

कणमोक्षादृतान् मोहात्पीड्यमानानपि क्षुधा ॥

Transliteration

jñāne 'pi sati paśyaitān pataṅgāñ chāva-caṃcuṣu / kaṇa-mokṣād ṛtān mohāt pīḍyamānān api kṣudhā

Translation

ജ്ഞാനം ഉണ്ടായിട്ടും ഈ കീടങ്ങളെ നോക്കുക—വിശപ്പാൽ പീഡിതരായിട്ടും വെറും ധാന്യചിതറലാൽ ആകർഷിതരായി മോഹവശാൽ കുഞ്ഞുപക്ഷികളുടെ കൊക്കുകളിൽ വീഴുന്നു।

Word by Word

• jñāne: in knowledge / despite knowing
• jñāne: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: even/though
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive sense ‘even/though’

• sati: being (present)
• sati: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु) → sat (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकृदन्त/शतृ), Locative singular neuter agreeing with jñāne; absolute locative sense (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)

• paśya: see!
• paśya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• etān: these
• etān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (एतद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pataṅgān: moths/insects
• pataṅgān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pataṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• chāva-cañcuṣu: in the beaks of the young (birds)
• chāva-cañcuṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chāva (प्रातिपदिक) + cañcu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘in the beaks of young ones’

• kaṇa-mokṣa: from the dropping of grains
• kaṇa-mokṣa: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); in verse as Ablative: kaṇamokṣāt

• ā-dṛtān: intent on / taking up (that)
• ā-dṛtān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√dṛ (आ + दृ/दर् धातु ‘to respect/heed’) → ādṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (भूतकृदन्त/क्त), Masculine Accusative Plural (द्वितीया बहुवचन), qualifying pataṅgān

• mohāt: from delusion
• mohāt: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: moha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• pīḍyamānān: being tormented
• pīḍyamānān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīḍ (पीड् धातु) → pīḍyamāna (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present passive participle (वर्तमानकृदन्त/शानच् in passive sense), Masculine Accusative Plural (द्वितीया बहुवचन), qualifying pataṅgān

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) ‘even/also’

• kṣudhā: by hunger
• kṣudhā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣudh (क्षुध् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

• Ṛṣi speaking

Verse Rasa

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

Shakti Aspects

• Mahāmāyā (implicit: bait of sense-objects leading to destruction)

Key Themes

• Sense-bait
• Moha overpowering knowledge
• Karma and compulsion
• Analogy

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even when one ‘knows better,’ craving and compulsion can drive harmful choices. The ethical lesson is to restrain appetite (kāma/lobha) and cultivate steadiness so knowledge becomes lived wisdom.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Didactic illustration within theological discourse; not a pañcalakṣaṇa enumeration.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘grain’ symbolizes small viṣayas (sense-pleasures) that lure jīvas into the ‘beak’ of death/suffering. Mahāmāyā operates as the attractive power of appearances that eclipses discernment.