Shloka 71

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

Sanskrit

मधुकैटभौ दुरात्मानावतिवीर्यपराक्रमौ ।

क्रोधरक्तेक्षणावत्तुं ब्रह्माणं जनितोद्यमौ ॥

Transliteration

madhukaiṭabhau durātmānāv ativīryaparākramau / krodharaktekṣaṇāv attuṃ brahmāṇaṃ janitodyamau

Translation

മധുവും കൈടഭനും ദുഷ്ടസ്വഭാവമുള്ളവർ, മഹാബലവും പരാക്രമവും ഉള്ളവർ; ക്രോധത്തിൽ രക്തവർണ്ണമായ കണ്ണുകളോടെ ബ്രഹ്മാവിനെ വിഴുങ്ങുവാൻ ഉദ്ദേശിച്ച് അവർ എഴുന്നേറ്റു.

Word by Word

• मधुकैटभौ: Madhu and Kaiṭabha
• मधुकैटभौ: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + कैटभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• दुरात्मानौ: evil-souled
• दुरात्मानौ: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; 'मधुकैटभौ' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• अतिवीर्यपराक्रमौ: of immense strength and valor
• अतिवीर्यपराक्रमौ: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-सन्निवेशः: अतिवीर्यश्च पराक्रमश्च यस्य/ययोः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; 'मधुकैटभौ' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• क्रोधरक्तेक्षणौ: with eyes reddened by anger
• क्रोधरक्तेक्षणौ: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-समास: क्रोधेन रक्ते ईक्षणे यस्य/ययोः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; 'मधुकैटभौ' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• अवत्तुम्: to cover/overwhelm
• अवत्तुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive); धातु 'वृ' (to cover/envelop) — उद्देश्य (purpose)

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जनितोद्यमौ: having roused their effort (ready to act)
• जनितोद्यमौ: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जनित (√जन् + क्त, कृदन्त) + उद्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: जनितः उद्यमः यस्य/ययोः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; 'मधुकैटभौ' इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speakers

• Narrator (Ṛṣi)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Madhu
• Kaiṭabha
• Brahmā
• Viṣṇu

Key Themes

• Demonology
• Threat to creation
• Rage and adharma
• Mythic conflict

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Unchecked rage and predation are portrayed as anti-creative forces; the ‘devouring of Brahmā’ symbolizes the attempt of chaos to consume order and intelligibility.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita: a conflict episode illustrating how adharma threatens cosmic functions (creation personified by Brahmā).

What is the esoteric significance?

Demons targeting Brahmā can signify distortion of buddhi (creative intelligence); anger-red eyes represent tamasic/rajasic agitation that seeks to swallow discernment.