Shloka 53

The Glory of the Devoted Wife (Pativratā) and the Māṇḍavya Curse: Sunrise Halted and Restored

Devanagari script

तं ब्रह्मतुल्यं तिष्ठन्तं दृष्ट्वा दुष्टा महामुनिम् । चोरोयमद्भुताकारो धूर्तस्तिष्ठति कानने

Transliteration

taṃ brahmatulyaṃ tiṣṭhantaṃ dṛṣṭvā duṣṭā mahāmunim | coroyamadbhutākāro dhūrtastiṣṭhati kānane

Translation

Увидев великого мудреца, стоявшего там, равного Брахме по достоинству, злодей сказал: «Это вор удивительного облика; мошенник стоит в лесу».

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — accusative singular

• ब्रह्म-तुल्यम्: equal to Brahman, Brahman-like
• ब्रह्म-तुल्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्मणा तुल्यम्/ब्रह्मवत् तुल्यम्); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — accusative singular; विशेषण of 'तम्'

• तिष्ठन्तम्: standing
• तिष्ठन्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — accusative singular; 'standing' qualifying 'तम्'

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभाव — 'having seen'

• दुष्टाः: wicked (ones)
• दुष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — nominative plural; (contextually: wicked men/thieves)

• महामुनिम्: the great sage
• महामुनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् मुनिः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — accusative singular; apposition to 'तम्'

• चोरः: a thief
• चोरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — nominative singular

• इयम्: this (one)
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — nominative singular

• अद्भुत-आकारः: of wondrous form
• अद्भुत-आकारः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (अद्भुतः आकारः यस्य/अद्भुताकारः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — nominative singular; विशेषण of 'चोरः'

• धूर्तः: a rogue
• धूर्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — nominative singular; apposition to 'चोरः'

• तिष्ठति: stands
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — 'stands/remains'

• कानने: in the forest
• कानने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — locative singular

Speaker

An unnamed wicked person (duṣṭā), speaking about the great sage

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: forest

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: चोरोयमद्भुताकारो = चोरः + इयम् + अद्भुत-आकारः; धूर्तस्तिष्ठति = धूर्तः + तिष्ठति.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Mahāmuni (great sage)

FAQs

What is the central message of this verse?

It highlights how a wicked person can misjudge or deliberately slander a saintly sage, projecting criminal intent onto someone who is actually spiritually exalted.

Why is the sage described as “brahmatulya” (equal to Brahmā)?

It is an honorific emphasizing the sage’s spiritual stature, purity, and authority—making the false accusation appear especially perverse and unjust.

What ethical lesson does this verse convey?

It warns against false accusation and malicious speech: judging by suspicion or envy can lead to adharma, especially when directed at the virtuous.