Shloka 108

Puṣkara Mahatmya: Brahmā’s Lotus-Tīrtha, Sacrifice, Initiation, and Kṣetra-Dharma

Devanagari script

सर्वे कमंडलुयुता मुक्तकक्षाक्षमालिनः । दंडिनश्चीरवस्त्राश्च जटाभिरतिशोभिताः

Transliteration

sarve kamaṃḍaluyutā muktakakṣākṣamālinaḥ | daṃḍinaścīravastrāśca jaṭābhiratiśobhitāḥ

Translation

सर्वे कमण्डलुयुता मुक्तकक्षाक्षमालिनः । दण्डिनश्चीरवस्त्राश्च जटाभिरतिशोभिताः ॥

Word by Word

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्; ‘all (of them)’

• कमण्डलुयुताः: carrying water-pots
• कमण्डलुयुताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कमण्डलु + युत (प्रातिपदिक; √युज् क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः—‘कमण्डलुना युताः/सहिताः’; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्

• मुक्तकक्षाक्षमालिनः: with loosened waist-cloth and rosaries
• मुक्तकक्षाक्षमालिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त + कक्षा + अक्ष + मालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिः—‘मुक्ता कक्षा यस्य’ (unbound waist-cloth) तथा ‘अक्ष-मालिन्’ (rosary-wearer) इत्यादि गुणसमूहः; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्

• दण्डिनः: staff-bearers
• दण्डिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्; ‘staff-bearers’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya/Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• चीरवस्त्राः: wearing bark-garments and cloth
• चीरवस्त्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चीर + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वः—‘चीरं च वस्त्रं च’ (bark-garment and cloth); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya/Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• जटाभिः: with matted hair
• जटाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचनम्; ‘with matted locks’

• अतिशोभिताः: highly adorned
• अतिशोभिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + शोभित (प्रातिपदिक; √शुभ्/शोभ् क्त)
• Form: उपसर्गपूर्वक-क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्; ‘greatly adorned/beautified’

Speaker

Narrator (contextual description within the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa narrative; specific speaker not explicit in this single verse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: दण्डिनः + च → दण्डिनश्च; चीरवस्त्राः + च → चीरवस्त्राश्च; जटाभिः + अतिशोभिताः → जटाभिरतिशोभिताः; कमंडलु→कमण्डलु (standard).

FAQs

What is being described in this verse?

The verse describes the appearance and ascetic emblems of sages—water-pot, staff, bark garments, rudrākṣa rosary, and matted hair—signifying renunciation and disciplined practice.

What do kamaṇḍalu and daṇḍa symbolize in Purāṇic literature?

The kamaṇḍalu commonly symbolizes purity, self-restraint, and a mendicant’s simple needs, while the daṇḍa (staff) signifies vows, discipline, and the regulated life of an ascetic.

What ethical or spiritual lesson is implied by these ascetic markers?

The imagery emphasizes simplicity, restraint, and commitment to spiritual discipline (tapas), presenting renunciation and inner steadiness as ideals for seekers.