Shloka 17

Dharma-vyādha on Parental Worship

Pitṛ-mātṛ-śuśrūṣā as Paramadaivata

Devanagari script

शयानं शयने दिव्ये नागभोगे महाद्युतिम्‌,वे शेषनागके शरीरकी दिव्य शय्यापर शयन किये हुए थे। उनका तेज महान्‌ है। वे जिस शबय्यापर शयन करते हैं, उसकी लंबाई-चौड़ाई कई योजनोंकी है। भगवानके मस्तकपर किरीट और कण्ठमें कौस्तुभभणिकी शोभा हो रही थी। उन्होंने रेशमी पीताम्बर धारण कर रखा था

Transliteration

śayānaṃ śayane divye nāgabhoge mahādyutim |

Translation

Маркандея сказал: «Я узрел того Господа, сияющего превыше всего, возлежащего на божественном ложе — на кольцах великого змея Шеши (Śeṣa). Его блеск был безмерен; само ложе простиралось в длину и ширину на многие йоджаны. На голове его была корона, на шее сиял камень Каустубха, и он был облачён в жёлтые шелка».

Word by Word

• शयानम्: lying, reclining
• शयानम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शय (धातु) → शयान (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शयने: on the couch/bed
• शयने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• दिव्ये: divine
• दिव्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• नागभोगे: on the serpent-coil (couch of a nāga)
• नागभोगे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागभोग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• महा-द्युतिम्: of great splendor
• महा-द्युतिम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + द्युति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Śeṣanāga (Śeṣa)
• Bhagavān (Vişṇu/Nārāyaṇa implied)
• Kaustubha jewel
• Kirīṭa (crown)
• Pītāmbara (yellow garment)
• Divine couch/bed (śayyā)
• Yojana (measure of distance)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes reverent recognition of the Divine as the cosmic sustainer: His majesty, symbols (Kaustubha, crown, pītāmbara), and repose on Śeṣa signify stable cosmic order and protection—encouraging devotion grounded in awe and dharmic orientation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes a vision of the supremely radiant Lord (Vişṇu/Nārāyaṇa) reclining on the coils of Śeṣa upon a vast divine couch, adorned with crown and Kaustubha jewel, wearing a yellow silken garment.