Shloka 4

Adhyaya 4 — Jaimini Meets the Dharmapakshis: Four Doubts on the Mahabharata and the Opening of Narayana Doctrine

Sanskrit

स्थानसौष्ठवसम्पन्नं जितश्वासमविश्रमम् ।

विस्पष्टमपदोषञ्च पठ्यते द्विजसत्तमैः ॥

Transliteration

sthānasauṣṭhavasampannaṃ jitaśvāsamaviśramam |

vispaṣṭamapadoṣañca paṭhyate dvijasattamaiḥ ||

Translation

ଦ୍ୱିଜଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠମାନେ ଉଚ୍ଚାରଣ-ଶୁଦ୍ଧିସମ୍ପନ୍ନ, ଶ୍ୱାସ-ସଂଯମୀ ଓ କ୍ଲାନ୍ତିହୀନ ହୋଇ, ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ ଏବଂ ପଦଦୋଷରହିତ ଭାବେ ପାଠ ପଢ଼ନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• sthāna-sauṣṭhava-sampannam: endowed with proper posture and good articulation
• sthāna-sauṣṭhava-sampannam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक) + sauṣṭhava (प्रातिपदिक) + sampanna (कृदन्त; √pad/√pād? here sampanna as past participle from सम्+√पद्/पद् in sense 'endowed')
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषणम् (neuter, accusative/nominative singular; adjectival)

• jita-śvāsam: with controlled breath
• jita-śvāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita (कृदन्त; √ji जि 'to conquer') + śvāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषणम् (neuter, acc./nom. sg.)

• a-viśramam: without pause/rest
• a-viśramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśrama (प्रातिपदिक) with नञ्-समास/अ-प्रत्यय
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; नञर्थक-विशेषणम् (neuter, acc./nom. sg.; 'without rest')

• vispaṣṭam: clearly
• vispaṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vispaṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषणम् (neuter, acc./nom. sg.)

• a-padoṣam: free from faults
• a-padoṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padoṣa (प्रातिपदिक) with नञ्-समास/अ-प्रत्यय
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; नञर्थक-विशेषणम् (neuter, acc./nom. sg.; 'faultless')

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• paṭhyate: is recited/read
• paṭhyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paṭh (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (present indicative, 3rd sg., passive)

• dvija-sattamaiḥ: by the best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• dvija-sattamaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक; superlative)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (masculine, instrumental plural; 'best (who are) twice-born')

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Markandeya Purana’s instructional context (no explicit Goddess episode here); not part of Devi Māhātmyam dialogue

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Vedic learning
• Śikṣā (phonetics)
• Mantra/recitation discipline
• Self-control (breath regulation)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Sacred learning is not merely textual; it is a disciplined practice. Correct articulation, clarity, and faultless wording preserve meaning and efficacy, while breath-control and steadiness reflect inner self-mastery (saṃyama) expected of a learned person.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse is best classed as ancillary dharma/ācāra material (instruction on conduct and practice) rather than a direct instance of the five hallmark topics (sarga, pratisarga, vaṃśa, manvantara, vaṃśānucarita). It supports dharmic transmission of Purāṇic/Vedic knowledge.

What is the esoteric significance?

On an inner level, ‘jitaśvāsa’ implies prāṇa-saṃyama: when breath is regulated, speech becomes steady and precise. The verse links outer purity of sound (śabda-śuddhi) with inner composure, suggesting that true recitation is a yogic act aligning mind, breath, and meaning.