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Shloka 25

Yayāti and Mātali: Embodiment, Dharma as Rejuvenation, and the Medicine of Kṛṣṇa’s Name

पंचात्मका हि ये खंडाः शतसंधिविजर्जराः । तेन संधारिताः सर्वे कायो धातुसमो भवेत्

paṃcātmakā hi ye khaṃḍāḥ śatasaṃdhivijarjarāḥ | tena saṃdhāritāḥ sarve kāyo dhātusamo bhavet

Ибо эти части тела, составленные из пяти элементов, изнуряются сотнями суставов; когда же все они поддержаны тем поддерживающим началом, тело становится стойким, как металл.

पंचात्मकाःfivefold, consisting of five
पंचात्मकाः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootपञ्च-आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (पञ्च आत्मा यस्य/येषां); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘khaṇḍāḥ’)
हिindeed, for
हि:
Nipata (Particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थक निपात (particle: indeed/for)
येwhich, those who
ये:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)
खण्डाःparts, fragments
खण्डाः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootखण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन
शतhundred
शत:
Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
TypeAdjective
Rootशत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमासपूर्वपद; संख्या-विशेषण
संधिjoint, junction
संधि:
Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
TypeNoun
Rootसंधि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमासपूर्वपद; ‘joint/connection’
विजर्जराःvery worn out, shattered at the joints
विजर्जराः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootवि-जर्जर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (शतसंधिभिः विजर्जराः = many-jointed and worn); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘khaṇḍāḥ’)
तेनby that, thereby
तेन:
Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/हेतु (by that/thereby)
संधारिताःheld together, supported, joined
संधारिताः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसम्-√धृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘sarve’)
सर्वेall
सर्वे:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; (सर्वे खण्डाः इति)
कायःbody
कायः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootकाय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
धातुmetal; bodily constituent
धातु:
Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
TypeNoun
Rootधातु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमासपूर्वपद; ‘metal/constituent’
समःequal to, like
समः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय-समास (धातुसमः = धातु इव समः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘kāyaḥ’)
भवेत्would become, may become
भवेत्:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√भू (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Unspecified (context needed from surrounding verses to confirm the dialogue frame, e.g., Pulastya–Bhīṣma or Śiva–Pārvatī).

Concept: The body, made of five elements and weakened by many joints, becomes firm like metal when properly ‘supported’ by the sustaining principle (discipline/devotion).

Application: Strengthen the ‘joints’ of life—sleep, food, speech, habits—by a single sustaining axis: daily worship, truthfulness, and regulated conduct; this yields resilience.

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A translucent human form is shown as a five-element mandala—earth, water, fire, air, ether—connected by many delicate joints like hinges. A single luminous band of devotion encircles and ‘binds’ the structure, turning the fragile frame into a gleaming, metal-like body that stands unwavering.","primary_figures":["symbolic embodied jīva","personified pañca-bhūtas (subtle forms)","a devotional ‘support’ motif (Hari-centered band/light)"],"setting":"An abstract sacred diagram-space, like a temple mandala floating over a calm earth horizon.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["steel gray","lapis blue","amber","pearl white","earth brown"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a central standing figure with a metallic sheen, surrounded by five elemental emblems in a mandala; a gold-leaf aura band symbolizing sustaining devotion; ornate border with chakra and conch motifs, rich reds/greens, gem-like highlights.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: poetic allegory—delicate figure with visible joint-lines, five elements painted as soft natural scenes (mountain, river, flame, breeze, sky) around; a subtle luminous thread binding them; cool palette with refined detailing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines of the figure and elemental icons, strong flat pigments; the binding ‘support’ shown as a bright yellow-gold ribbon; temple mural border patterns and stylized eyes.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central figure framed by lotus and floral borders; five elements rendered as repeating motifs; deep blue ground with gold highlights; Vishnu symbols subtly integrated to indicate the sustaining factor."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["low drone (tanpura)","soft bells","measured silence"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes: पंचात्मका → पञ्चात्मकाः; शतसंधिविजर्जराः → शत संधि विजर्जराः (समास); धातुसमो → धातु-समः (कर्मधारय); अन्यत्र पदच्छेदः स्पष्टः।

FAQs

It presents the body as constituted from the five great elements (pañca-mahābhūta), a common Purāṇic and Ayurvedic framework for understanding embodiment.

The verse uses the many articulations of the body as an image for vulnerability and wear—numerous junctions imply many points of strain and decay unless properly supported.

It conveys firmness and stability: when the body’s constituents are well-sustained/held together by the indicated support (tena), the body is described as becoming strong and enduring, like metal.