Shloka 59

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

Sanskrit

प्रकृतिस्त्वञ्च सर्वस्य गुणत्रयविभाविनी ।

कालरात्रिर्महारात्रिर्मोहरात्रिश्च दारुणा ॥

Transliteration

prakṛtis tvañ ca sarvasya guṇatrayavibhāvinī | kālarātrir mahārātrir moharātriś ca dāruṇā ||

Translation

നീ സർവ്വത്തിന്റെയും പ്രകൃതി, ത്രിഗുണങ്ങളെ പ്രകാശിപ്പിക്കുന്നവൾ. നീ കാലരാത്രി, മഹാരാത്രി, ഭയങ്കര മോഹരാത്രി.

Word by Word

• प्रकृतिः: (you are) Nature, primal matter
• प्रकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम (2nd person pronoun), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सर्वस्य: of all
• सर्वस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (m./n.), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; ‘of all/entire’ (used substantively)

• गुणत्रयविभाविनी: manifesting the three qualities (guṇas)
• गुणत्रयविभाविनी: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुणत्रयविभाविनी = गुण + त्रय + विभाविनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) qualifying ‘त्वम्/प्रकृतिः’; विभाविनी = ‘manifesting/producing’

• कालरात्रिः: Kālarātri (Night of Time/Death)
• कालरात्रिः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालरात्रि = काल + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महारात्रिः: the great night
• महारात्रिः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारात्रि = महत् + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मोहरात्रिः: the night of delusion
• मोहरात्रिः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहरात्रि = मोह + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दारुणा: terrible, fierce
• दारुणा: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

Speakers

• Brahmā to Devī

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Devī
• Brahmā

Shakti Aspects

• Prakṛti
• Kālarātri
• Mahārātri
• Moharātri

Key Themes

• Sāṅkhya-related cosmology (guṇas, prakṛti)
• Time and dissolution imagery
• Devī as both nurturing and terrifying
• Shaktism

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Nature and its guṇas are not merely mechanical; they are sacral powers of Devī. Recognizing guṇic influence helps cultivate sattva and loosen the grip of moha.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Strongly aligned with Sarga/Pratisarga since prakṛti and guṇas are the explanatory framework for manifestation and reabsorption across cosmic cycles.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘nights’ symbolize phases where consciousness is eclipsed—cosmically (pralaya) and individually (ignorance, sleep, despair). Devī is invoked as the power that both veils and can guide through that darkness.