Shloka 40

The Slaying of Vṛtrāsura

Devanagari script

गीतं गायंति गंधर्वा मुनयः स्तुतिपाठकाः । भीताः पलायिताः सर्वे दैत्यास्त्यक्तायुधा दिशः

Transliteration

gītaṃ gāyaṃti gaṃdharvā munayaḥ stutipāṭhakāḥ | bhītāḥ palāyitāḥ sarve daityāstyaktāyudhā diśaḥ

Translation

Para Gandharva menyanyikan lagu, dan para resi melafazkan pujian. Dalam ketakutan, semua Daitya melarikan diri ke segala arah, membuang senjata mereka.

Word by Word

• गीतम्: song; singing
• गीतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीत (कृदन्त; √गै/गाय् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) — Neuter, Nom./Acc. singular; past passive participle used substantively

• गायन्ति: (they) sing
• गायन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गै/गाय् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद — Present indicative, 3rd person plural, parasmaipada

• गन्धर्वाः: Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन — Masculine, nominative plural

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन — Masculine, nominative plural

• स्तुतिपाठकाः: reciters of hymns
• स्तुतिपाठकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तुति (प्रातिपदिक) + पाठक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्तुतेः पाठकाः) — Masculine, nominative plural; genitive tatpurusha

• भीताः: frightened
• भीताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीत (कृदन्त; √भी धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) — Masculine, nominative plural; past participle used adjectivally

• पलायिताः: fled
• पलायिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पलायित (कृदन्त; √पलाय् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) — Masculine, nominative plural; past participle

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन — Masculine, nominative plural

• दैत्याः: Daityas (demons)
• दैत्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन — Masculine, nominative plural

• त्यक्तायुधाः: having abandoned weapons; weaponless
• त्यक्तायुधाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यक्त (कृदन्त; √त्यज् धातु) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (त्यक्तानि आयुधानि येषां ते) — Masculine, nominative plural; bahuvrihi adjective

• दिशः: directions
• दिशः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन — Feminine, accusative plural

Speaker

Unspecified narrator (context required within Adhyaya 73 to attribute to Pulastya–Bhīṣma or Śiva–Pārvatī frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: गंधर्वा→गन्धर्वाः (विसर्ग-लोप/अनुस्वार-नियम); दैत्यास्त्यक्तायुधा→दैत्याः त्यक्तायुधाः (आः + त् sandhi, विसर्ग-लोप)

Characters & Entities

• Gandharvas
• Munis (sages)
• Daityas

FAQs

What is the central event described in this verse?

It depicts a triumphant, auspicious moment: celestial Gandharvas sing and sages chant hymns, while the Daityas—overcome by fear—scatter and flee, abandoning their weapons.

Why are Gandharvas and sages paired together here?

Gandharvas represent celestial music and celebration, while sages represent sacred speech and hymn-recitation; together they symbolize a victory of dharmic order expressed through sound—song and stuti.

What ethical or spiritual lesson does the Daityas’ flight convey?

It suggests that arrogance and violence collapse in the presence of divine praise and dharmic power; fear arises when one’s actions are opposed to cosmic order, leading to surrender (here, by dropping weapons) and retreat.