Shloka 20

Adhyaya 48 — The Emanation of Beings from Brahma: Night, Day, Twilight, and the Orders of Creation

Sanskrit

रक्षाम इति तेभ्योऽन्ये य ऊचुस्ते तु राक्षसाः ।

खादाम इति ये चोचुस्ते यक्षा यक्षणात् द्विज ॥

Transliteration

rakṣāma iti tebhyo 'nye ya ūcus te tu rākṣasāḥ / khādāma iti ye cocus te yakṣā yakṣaṇāt dvija

Translation

Antara mereka, yang berkata, ‘Marilah kita melindungi (nya),’ menjadi Rākṣasa. Yang berkata, ‘Marilah kita memakan (nya),’ menjadi Yakṣa—dinamakan demikian kerana perbuatan makan itu, wahai yang dua kali lahir.

Word by Word

रक्षामःwe protect

इतिthus

तेभ्यःfrom them

अन्येothers

येwho

ऊचुःsaid

तेthey

तुindeed

राक्षसाःRākṣasas

खादामःwe eat/devour

इतिthus

येwho

चand

ऊचुःsaid

तेthey

यक्षाःYakṣas

यक्षणात्from (their) eating/devouring

द्विजO twice-born (brāhmaṇa)

Speakers

Narrative voice addressing a dvija; etiological (name-origin) explanation

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

Brahmā (implied as creator)

Key Themes

SargaMythic etymology (nirukti-style)Origins of beingsProtection vs consumption

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Two impulses are contrasted: guardianship (rakṣaṇa) versus predation (khādana). The taxonomy of beings becomes a moral map—identity follows intention and action.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Sarga: origin and naming of species/classes of beings through creator-linked narrative etymology.

What is the esoteric significance?

Inner ‘rākṣasa/yakṣa’ can be read as protective versus consumptive tendencies within the psyche; spiritual discipline cultivates the rakṣaṇa-impulse over the devouring one.