Shloka 39

Adhyaya 49 — Primordial Human Creation, the Rise of Desire, and the Origins of Settlements, Measures, and Agriculture

Sanskrit

द्वे वितस्ती तथा हस्तो ब्राह्म्यतीर्थादिवेष्टनः ।

चतुर्हस्तं धनुर्दण्डो नाडिकायुगमेव च ॥

Transliteration

dve vitastī tathā hasto brāhmyatīrthādi-veṣṭanaḥ | catur-hastaṃ dhanur-daṇḍo nāḍikā-yugam eva ca ||

Translation

दोन वितस्ति मिळून एक हस्त (क्यूबिट) होतो; तो ब्रह्मतीर्थ इत्यादी ठिकाणांपासून हात गुंडाळून मोजला जातो. चार हस्तांचा धनु/दंड होतो; तसेच नाडिकांच्या जोडीचाही उल्लेख आहे.

Word by Word

द्वेtwo

वितस्तीtwo spans (vitastis)

तथाlikewise

हस्तःa hasta (cubit)

ब्राह्म्यतीर्थादिवेष्टनः(a hasta) measured by wrapping from the brāhmya-tīrtha etc.

चतुर्हस्तम्four hastas

धनुःदण्डःa dhanurdaṇḍa (bow-staff measure)

नाडिकायुगम्a pair of nāḍikās

एवindeed/just

चand

Speakers

Not explicitly indicated in the provided excerpt (likely within the Purāṇic didactic narration)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

MetrologyBody-markers in measurementLength and (briefly) time units

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Knowledge is presented as operational: even sacred anatomy (hand ‘tīrthas’) becomes a pragmatic reference for standardization, blending ritual culture with civic utility.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Supports descriptive cosmography and social order (Sarga/Sthiti-related material); not a primary focus on Pratisarga/Vaṃśa/Manvantara.

What is the esoteric significance?

Linking ‘tīrthas’ on the hand with measurement suggests sanctification of action (karma): the hand that performs rites and labor is also the instrument of ordering space and time.