Shloka 71
Brahmā’s Puṣkara Sacrifice and the Manifestation of Sarasvatī
with Tīrtha-Merit Teachings
बृहद्वांतिर्महाजिह्वः शंकुकर्णो महाध्वनिः । दीर्घजिह्वोर्कनयनो मृडकायो मृडप्रियः
bṛhadvāṃtirmahājihvaḥ śaṃkukarṇo mahādhvaniḥ | dīrghajihvorkanayano mṛḍakāyo mṛḍapriyaḥ
Dia berpinggang lebar, berlidah besar, bertelinga laksana sangkha dan bersuara menggelegar; berlidah panjang, bermata laksana surya, bertubuh lembut, serta dikasihi oleh Mṛḍa (Śiva).
Narrator (context not provided in the excerpt; speaker cannot be fixed with certainty without surrounding verses).
Concept: Purāṇic cosmology includes graded beings with distinctive forms and affiliations; even those ‘dear to Mṛḍa (Śiva)’ are situated within the larger cosmic order.
Application: Recognize plurality of devotional affiliations without confusion; keep one’s iṣṭa steady while respecting other deities’ spheres.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A colossal being stands at the edge of a storm-lit wilderness, waist broad, tongue extended like a crimson banner, eyes blazing like the sun. His ears curl like conch shells, and his roar ripples the air like thunder, while a faint Śiva-emblem (tripuṇḍra or crescent) hints at his allegiance to Mṛḍa.","primary_figures":["Thunderous mythic being (as described)","Śiva (Mṛḍa) as distant presence or emblematic aura"],"setting":"Stormy forest clearing with shattered rocks and swirling clouds, a distant mountain silhouette.","lighting_mood":"storm-flash chiaroscuro","color_palette":["storm grey","sun-gold","crimson","inky black","pale ash-white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: the central towering figure with exaggerated conch-shaped ears and sun-like eyes, framed by a gold-leaf prabhāmaṇḍala; subtle Śiva symbols in the border; rich reds, greens, and heavy gold embossing to heighten the supernatural presence.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: dramatic yet refined monster-majesty; delicate cloud bands, lightning strokes, and a lyrical forest; the figure rendered with controlled exaggeration, sun-eye highlighted with thin gold, cool mountain tones and precise detailing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines and stylized anatomy; large expressive eyes, patterned tongue and ornaments; background storm motifs simplified into rhythmic curves; traditional red/yellow/green palette with black contour dominance.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic rendering—sun-eye as a radiant mandala, conch-ear motifs repeated in the border; the figure placed within a decorative storm-lotus frame; deep blue ground with gold and white lightning filigree."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["thunder roll","conch blast","drum accents","wind gusts"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dīrghajihvorkanayano = dīrghajihvaḥ + arkanayanaḥ (visarga + a → o); अन्यत्र पदच्छेदः सरलः।
FAQs
This śloka functions as a string of epithets—iconographic and devotional descriptors—praising a powerful being whose qualities culminate in being “dear to Mṛḍa (Śiva),” signaling a Shaiva devotional coloring within the Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa.
Mṛḍa is a well-known epithet of Śiva meaning “the gracious/beneficent one.” “Mṛḍapriyaḥ” means “beloved of Śiva,” indicating closeness, favor, or alignment with Śiva.
The verse models devotional remembrance through nāma-guṇa-kīrtana (praising divine names and qualities), suggesting that contemplating auspicious attributes—power, radiance, and benevolence—supports reverence and steadiness of mind.