Shloka 41

The Episode of Cyavana

Cyavana’s Hermitage and the Power of Tapas

Devanagari script

तदा शप्तोऽतिदुःखार्तो जग्राहांघ्र्याशुशुक्षणिः । कुरु मेऽनुग्रहं स्वामिन्कृपार्णव महामते

Transliteration

tadā śapto'tiduḥkhārto jagrāhāṃghryāśuśukṣaṇiḥ | kuru me'nugrahaṃ svāminkṛpārṇava mahāmate

Translation

Тогда, проклятый и терзаемый великой скорбью, он поспешно припал к стопам своего владыки: «Яви мне милость, о господин, океан сострадания, о великомудрый!»

Word by Word

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• śaptaḥ: cursed
• śaptaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √śap (धातु) → śapta (कृदन्त; भूतकृदन्त/PPP)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) ‘cursed’

• ati-duḥkha-ārtaḥ: afflicted by extreme sorrow
• ati-duḥkha-ārtaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + ārta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: तत्पुरुष — ‘अतिदुःखेन आर्तः’

• jagrāha: seized, grasped
• jagrāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• aṅghrī: (your) two feet
• aṅghrī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅghri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• āśu: quickly
• āśu: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• śukṣaṇiḥ: the withered one (proper/epithet)
• śukṣaṇiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śukṣaṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (दुर्लभ-शब्दः)

• kuru: do, grant
• kuru: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• me: for me / to me
• me: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th) एकवचन; एन्क्लिटिक रूप (enclitic)

• anugraham: favor, grace
• anugraham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anugraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• svāmin: O lord
• svāmin: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• kṛpā-arṇava: O ocean of compassion
• kṛpā-arṇava: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः: कर्मधारय — ‘कृपायाः अर्णव इव’ (ocean of compassion)

• mahā-mate: O great-minded one
• mahā-mate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः: कर्मधारय — ‘महती मतिः यस्य’

Speaker

Narrator (context-specific; the verse describes a cursed person petitioning a lord)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: temple

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: śapto'tiduḥkhārto = śaptaḥ + ati-duḥkha-ārtaḥ; jagrāhāṃghryāśuśukṣaṇiḥ = jagrāha + aṅghrī + āśu + śukṣaṇiḥ; me'nugraham = me + anugraham; svāminkṛpārṇava = svāmin + kṛpā-arṇava.

FAQs

What devotional act is emphasized in this verse?

It highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) by grasping the lord’s feet and pleading for anugraha (grace), a classic bhakti gesture of surrender.

What is the ethical lesson conveyed by the scene of being cursed and then pleading for mercy?

The verse implies accountability for actions (the curse) while also affirming that humility and sincere repentance can lead one to seek compassionate guidance and relief.

Why is the lord addressed as “kṛpārṇava” (ocean of compassion) and “mahāmate” (great-minded)?

These epithets frame the deity/teacher as both merciful and discerning—able to forgive and also to act wisely in granting relief or instruction.