Shloka 71

Brahmā’s Puṣkara Sacrifice and the Manifestation of Sarasvatī

with Tīrtha-Merit Teachings

Devanagari script

बृहद्वांतिर्महाजिह्वः शंकुकर्णो महाध्वनिः । दीर्घजिह्वोर्कनयनो मृडकायो मृडप्रियः

Transliteration

bṛhadvāṃtirmahājihvaḥ śaṃkukarṇo mahādhvaniḥ | dīrghajihvorkanayano mṛḍakāyo mṛḍapriyaḥ

Translation

ସେ ବିଶାଳ କଟିଯୁକ୍ତ, ମହାଜିହ୍ୱା, ଶଙ୍ଖସଦୃଶ କର୍ଣ୍ଣଯୁକ୍ତ ଓ ମହାଧ୍ୱନିଶାଳୀ; ଦୀର୍ଘଜିହ୍ୱା, ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟନୟନ, ମୃଦୁକାୟ ଏବଂ ମୃଡ (ଶିବ)ଙ୍କ ପ୍ରିୟ।

Word by Word

• bṛhadvāṃtiḥ: having a great stench/breath
• bṛhadvāṃtiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhat (प्रातिपदिक) + vāṃti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (bṛhatī vāṃtiḥ yasya / bṛhad-vāṃtiḥ)

• mahājihvaḥ: large-tongued
• mahājihvaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + jihvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (mahā jihvā yasya)

• śaṃkukarṇaḥ: cone-eared / having pointed ears
• śaṃkukarṇaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṃku (प्रातिपदिक) + karṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (śaṃku-sadṛśaḥ karṇaḥ / śaṃkūnāṃ karṇaḥ इत्यर्थे)

• mahādhvaniḥ: loud-sounding
• mahādhvaniḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvani (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (mahān dhvaniḥ yasya)

• dīrghajihvaḥ: long-tongued
• dīrghajihvaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक) + jihvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (dīrghā jihvā yasya)

• arkanayanaḥ: sun-eyed / having eyes like the sun
• arkanayanaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arka (प्रातिपदिक) + nayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (arkavat nayane yasya / arkasya nayane इत्यर्थे)

• mṛḍakāyaḥ: having a gentle/auspicious body
• mṛḍakāyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (mṛḍa-sadṛśaḥ kāyaḥ / mṛḍasya kāyaḥ)

• mṛḍapriyaḥ: fond of gentleness/auspiciousness (or of Mṛḍa=Śiva)
• mṛḍapriyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (mṛḍasya priyaḥ / mṛḍaṃ priyaṃ yasya)

Speaker

Narrator (context not provided in the excerpt; speaker cannot be fixed with certainty without surrounding verses).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: dīrghajihvorkanayano = dīrghajihvaḥ + arkanayanaḥ (visarga + a → o); अन्यत्र पदच्छेदः सरलः।

Characters & Entities

• Mṛḍa (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the main purpose of this verse in context?

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.

Who is “Mṛḍa,” and what does “mṛḍapriyaḥ” imply?

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.

Is there an ethical or spiritual takeaway from this verse?

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.