Shloka 21

Account of Kāmākṣā (Bhavānī) at Āhicchatrā

Devanagari script

नीराजयित्वा बहुशः किरंती मौक्तिकैर्मुहुः । गलदश्रुचलन्नेत्रा परिरेभे पतिं निजम्

Transliteration

nīrājayitvā bahuśaḥ kiraṃtī mauktikairmuhuḥ | galadaśrucalannetrā parirebhe patiṃ nijam

Translation

तिने त्यांचे वारंवार नीराजन केले आणि पुन्हा पुन्हा मोती उधळले। अश्रू वाहत, डोळे थरथरत तिने आपल्या पतीला घट्ट आलिंगन दिले।

Word by Word

• नीराजयित्वा: having performed ārati (waving lights)
• नीराजयित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नीराजय् (धातु) + क्त्वा (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), from causative of √राज्/√रञ्ज? in sense 'to wave light/perform ārati' (नीराजयति); action prior to main verb

• बहुशः: many times
• बहुशः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुशस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय): 'many times/often'

• किरन्ती: scattering (sprinkling)
• किरन्ती: Karta (कर्ता; agent/subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कॄ (किरति) (धातु) → वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमानकृदन्त), Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular; agreeing with implied subject (she)

• मौक्तिकैः: with pearls
• मौक्तिकैः: Karaṇa (करण; instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौक्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया) Plural

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय): 'again and again/repeatedly'

• गलत्: dripping
• गलत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √गल् (धातु) → वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle used adjectivally, Neuter (as compound-member), meaning 'dripping/falling'

• अश्रु: tear(s)
• अश्रु: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग; compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया) Singular as compound-member

• चलत्: trembling
• चलत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √चल् (धातु) → वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle used adjectivally, Neuter (as compound-member), meaning 'moving/trembling'

• नेत्रा: eyes
• नेत्रा: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा) Dual (often used for 'eyes'); as final member in bahuvrīhi compound

• गलदश्रुचलन्नेत्रा: she whose eyes trembled with flowing tears
• गलदश्रुचलन्नेत्रा: Karta (कर्ता; subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गलत् (√गल्, धातु) + अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + चलत् (√चल्, धातु) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) describing the woman: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular; lit. 'whose eyes are trembling with tears dripping'

• परिरेभे: embraced
• परिरेभे: Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √रभ् (धातु) with prefix परि-
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष) Singular; Parasmaipada; meaning 'embraced'

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular

• निजम्: her own
• निजम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; agreeing with पतिम्

Speaker

Narrative voice (speaker not specified in the provided verse excerpt)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: मौक्तिकैर्मुहुः = मौक्तिकैः + मुहुः; गलदश्रुचलन्नेत्रा = गलत् + अश्रु + चलत् + नेत्रा (चलत् + नेत्रा → चलन्नेत्रा); verse has a bahuvrīhi compound used as subject-qualifier.

FAQs

What ritual action is described by the word “nīrājayitvā” in this verse?

It refers to performing nīrājana/ārati—waving a lamp or light in reverence, typically as an act of devotion and auspicious welcome.

Why are pearls (mauktika) being scattered in this scene?

Scattering pearls functions as a gesture of honor and celebration, expressing prosperity and reverence during a devotional or auspicious reception.

What emotional and ethical tone does the verse convey?

It conveys intense devotional emotion—tears and trembling eyes—paired with affectionate reunion, highlighting reverence, gratitude, and faithful attachment within a marital bond.