Shloka 18
Yoga-Sleep, Cosmic Dissolution, and the Lotus of Creation
with Mārkaṇḍeya’s Vision
स यज्ञो वेदनिर्दिष्टस्तत्तपः कवयो विदुः । यः कर्त्ता कारको बुद्धिर्यतः क्षेत्रज्ञ एव च
sa yajño vedanirdiṣṭastattapaḥ kavayo viduḥ | yaḥ karttā kārako buddhiryataḥ kṣetrajña eva ca
ବେଦ ଯାହାକୁ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ କରେ ସେଇ ଯଜ୍ଞ; ଋଷି-କବିମାନେ ତାହାକୁ ହିଁ ସତ୍ୟ ତପ ଭାବେ ଜାଣନ୍ତି—ସେଇ କର୍ତ୍ତା, ସେଇ କର୍ମସାଧନ, ସେଇ ବୁଦ୍ଧି; ଏବଂ ସେଠାରୁ ହିଁ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରଜ୍ଞ (ଚେତନ ଆତ୍ମା) ମଧ୍ୟ ଉଦ୍ଭବିତ।
Uncertain (context not provided; likely a narrator/teacher voice within the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa dialogue tradition)
Concept: True yajna and tapas culminate in recognizing the Supreme as doer, instrument, and intelligence—the source even of the kshetrajna principle.
Application: Offer daily actions as yajna: before work or study, mentally dedicate results to Vishnu; cultivate humility by remembering that capacity, tools, and understanding arise from the Lord.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Vedic fire-altar blazes, but the flames subtly form the silhouette of the Supreme Person, indicating that the sacrifice is ultimately Him. Around the altar, a sage perceives that the ladle, offerings, mantra, and the very intelligence guiding the rite are all expressions of one indwelling Lord; the scene shifts from outer ritual to inner recognition.","primary_figures":["Vishnu (as indwelling presence in the fire)","a hotr-like priest or rishi","personified Buddhi (symbolic)"],"setting":"Forest hermitage yajna-shala with kusa grass, samidha bundles, ladles, and a geometrical altar; faint cosmic backdrop suggesting universality.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["saffron orange","smoldering ember red","ash gray","deep indigo","antique gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central yajna-kunda with flames shaped into a radiant Vishnu form; priest-rishi offering ghee, with ornate gold leaf flames and halo; rich maroon and green drapery, gem-like detailing on ritual vessels, carved arch framing the altar, inscriptions of Vedic mantra bands as decorative borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate hermitage yajna scene with delicate smoke curls forming a subtle divine figure; fine brushwork on kusa grass and wooden ladles, cool twilight indigo background, warm firelight on faces, contemplative rishi gaze indicating inner realization.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold altar geometry, stylized flames, Vishnu’s presence emerging in yellow-gold aura; priest and attendants with characteristic large eyes, flat red/green garments, rhythmic decorative patterns filling the yajna-shala walls.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: yajna as a devotional tableau—flames become a lotus-shaped aura; intricate floral borders, repeated ghee-lamp motifs, deep blue ground with gold highlights; attendants arranged symmetrically like a temple festival composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["crackling sacred fire","low mantra undertone","conch shell (soft, concluding)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vedanirdiṣṭaḥ ← veda + nirdiṣṭaḥ; tattapaḥ ← tat + tapaḥ; buddhir yataḥ ← buddhiḥ + yataḥ (visarga sandhi); kṣetrajñaḥ ← kṣetra + jñaḥ.
FAQs
The verse equates Veda-prescribed sacrifice (yajña) with genuine austerity (tapas), suggesting that disciplined, scripturally guided action is itself a form of spiritual purification.
The verse points to a supreme principle (often read theologically as the Lord) as the underlying agent, the means of action, and the very faculty of understanding—implying divine immanence behind all activity and cognition.
It encourages humility and responsible action: perform duties as sacred offerings, reduce egoistic doership, and recognize a higher ground of consciousness behind one’s capacities and results.