Shloka 76

Adhyaya 81 — Suratha and Samadhi Seek Sage Medhas; Introduction to Mahamaya and the Madhukaitabha Origin Account

Sanskrit

आवां जहि न यत्रोर्वो सलिलेन परिप्लुता ।

प्रीतौ स्वस्तव युद्धेन श्लाघ्यस्त्वं मृत्युरावयोः ॥

Transliteration

āvāṃ jahi na yatrorvo salilena pariplutā | prītau svastava yuddhena ślāghyas tvaṃ mṛtyur āvayoḥ ||

Translation

'பூமி நீரால் சூழப்படாத இடத்தில் எங்களைக் கொல்வாயாக. உனது போர்த்திறனால் நாங்கள் மகிழ்ச்சியடைந்தோம்; நீ போற்றுதலுக்குரியவன்—எங்கள் இருவரின் மரணமாக நீயே இரு.'

Word by Word

• āvām: us two
• āvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: 1st person pronoun, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Dual (द्विवचन)

• jahi: slay
• jahi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (हने)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्/imperative), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb (देशवाचक)

• urvoḥ: of the two thighs
• urvoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Dual (द्विवचन)

• salilena: with water
• salilena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: salila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• pariplutā: flooded/covered over
• pariplutā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paripluta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; pari+√plu प्लवने, क्त)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); PPP used adjectivally; agrees with 'urvoḥ' understood as 'urvī' (two thighs)

• prītau: (we two are) pleased
• prītau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prīta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √prī प्रीतौ, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); 'we two are pleased' (elliptic)

• su: well/very
• su: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: su (अव्यय)
• Form: Prefix/adverbial particle (उपसर्ग/निपात) intensifier

• stava: of you/your
• stava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); epic form stava = tava

• yuddhena: by (this) battle
• yuddhena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• ślāghyaḥ: praiseworthy
• ślāghyaḥ: Pratijna (प्रत्यय/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ślāghya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ślāgh स्तुतौ, यत्/णीय)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• mṛtyuḥ: death
• mṛtyuḥ: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to 'tvam'

• āvayoḥ: of us two
• āvayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Dual (द्विवचन)

Speakers

• Madhu and Kaiṭabha addressing Viṣṇu

Primary Deities

• Viṣṇu

Shakti Aspects

• Mahāmāyā (background cause of their self-binding condition)

Key Themes

• Boons as self-limitation
• Cosmic waters vs. stable ground
• Asuric pride and fatal conditions

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The ego binds itself through ‘clever’ conditions; dharmic intelligence uses those very conditions to dissolve the obstruction.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Narrative episode within Manvantara; not a genealogical (vaṃśa) passage but a didactic myth illustrating divine governance.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Unflooded earth’ symbolizes firm grounding (stability of sattva/awareness). The demons deny any such ground, forcing the Lord to reveal a transcendent ‘place’ beyond ordinary categories.