Shloka 36

Adhyaya 91 — The Gods’ Hymn to Kātyāyanī and the Goddess’ Prophecy of Future Manifestations

Sanskrit

श्रीदेव्युवाच वरदाहं सुरगण वरं यन्मनसेच्छथ ।

तं वृणुध्वं प्रयच्छामि जगतामुपकारकम् ॥

Transliteration

śrīdevy uvāca varadāhaṃ suragaṇa varaṃ yan manasecchatha /

taṃ vṛṇudhvaṃ prayacchāmi jagatām upakārakam

Translation

A Deusa Bem-aventurada disse: Ó hoste de deuses, Eu sou a doadora de dádivas. Qualquer dádiva que desejeis em vossos corações—escolhei-a; Eu a concederei, uma dádiva benéfica para os mundos.

Word by Word

• śrī-devī-uvāca: the revered Goddess said
• śrī-devī-uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + devī (प्रातिपदिक) + vac (धातु)
• Form: उवाच—लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘śrī-devī’ कर्तृ-सम्बोधन/नाम (honorific subject: the revered Goddess said)

• varadā: boon-giving
• varadā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + dā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—वरं ददाति इति (boon-giving)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अस्मद्-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sura-gaṇa: O host of gods
• sura-gaṇa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—सुराणां गणः (O host of gods)

• varam: a boon
• varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• yat: whatever
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative: which/whatever)

• manasā: with (your) mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• icchatha: you desire
• icchatha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• tam: that (boon)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; संकेत-सर्वनाम (that)

• vṛṇudhvam: choose
• vṛṇudhvam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद

• prayacchāmi: I grant
• prayacchāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + yam (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• jagatām: of the worlds
• jagatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• upakārakam: beneficial
• upakārakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upakāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘varam’)

Speakers

• Devi speaking to the Devas

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Devi (Chandika/Durga)
• Devas (collective)

Shakti Aspects

• Śrīdevī as Varadā (benevolent bestower)

Key Themes

• Divine grace
• Boon theology
• Loka-hita (world-benefit)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Divine power is framed as compassionate and purposive: even boons are oriented toward jagat-upakāra (benefit of the world). The ethical model is to desire what supports cosmic welfare, not selfish advantage.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Part of the Upākhyāna’s resolution phase (boon-granting after conflict). It is narrative-didactic rather than genealogical or cosmogenic.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘boon’ can symbolize siddhi or inner empowerment that arises after confronting and integrating destructive forces; its true measure is whether it becomes ‘upakāraka’—constructive for the whole psyche/world.