Shloka 157

The Origin of the Daṇḍaka Forest and Rāma’s Dharma-Judgment

Vulture vs. Owl

Devanagari script

इष्ट्वा हि राजसूयेन मित्रः शत्रुनिबर्हणः । मुहूर्तेन सुशुद्धेन वरुणत्वमुपागतः

Transliteration

iṣṭvā hi rājasūyena mitraḥ śatrunibarhaṇaḥ | muhūrtena suśuddhena varuṇatvamupāgataḥ

Translation

ରାଜସୂୟ ଯଜ୍ଞ କରି ଶତ୍ରୁନିବର୍ହଣ ମିତ୍ର ଅତିଶୟ ଶୁଦ୍ଧ ଓ ଶୁଭ ମୁହୂର୍ତ୍ତରେ ବରୁଣତ୍ୱ ପଦ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• इष्ट्वा: having performed (worshipped/sacrificed)
• इष्ट्वा: Kriya (पूर्वकर्म/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी-धातु; अर्थः—पूर्वकर्म (having done)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (वाक्य-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थः—खलु/नूनम् (indeed)

• राजसूयेन: by the Rājasūya sacrifice
• राजसूयेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजसूय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) एकवचन; instrumental—“by/with the Rājasūya (sacrifice)”

• मित्रः: Mitra (the deity/person named Mitra)
• मित्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• शत्रुनिबर्हणः: destroyer of enemies
• शत्रुनिबर्हणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + निबर्हण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—शत्रूणां निबर्हणः (destroyer of enemies)

• मुहूर्तेन: in a muhūrta (short time)
• मुहूर्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; करण—“within/by a muhūrta (short time)”

• सुशुद्धेन: very pure
• सुशुद्धेन: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; विशेषणम्—मुहूर्तेन (very pure)

• वरुणत्वम्: the state/office of Varuṇa
• वरुणत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुणत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; कर्म—“Varuṇa-hood/status of Varuṇa”

• उपागतः: attained
• उपागतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle used finitely), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; भावः—प्राप्तः (having attained)

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative voice within the Adhyaya context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: वरुणत्वमुपागतः = वरुणत्वम् + उपागतः; शत्रुनिबर्हणः = शत्रु + निबर्हणः (समास)

Characters & Entities

• Mitra
• Varuṇa
• Rājasūya

FAQs

What is the main point of this verse?

It links successful attainment of divine office (Varuṇa-hood) to proper sacrifice (Rājasūya) performed at a fully purified, auspicious ritual time (suśuddha muhūrta).

Why does the verse emphasize a “suśuddha muhūrta” (pure auspicious moment)?

In Purāṇic and Vedic ritual thought, timing and purity are integral to efficacy; the verse highlights that the right, purified muhūrta supports the fruition of a major rite like the Rājasūya.

What ethical or practical lesson can be drawn from this verse?

It underscores discipline in sacred action: intention alone is not enough—proper method, purity, and appropriate timing are presented as essential for achieving the intended result.