Shloka 23

Adhyaya 9 — Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra’s Mutual Curse: The Āḍi–Baka Battle and Brahmā’s Pacification

Sanskrit

शृण्वन्तावपि तौ वाक्यं ब्रह्मणोऽव्यक्तजन्मनः ।

कोपामर्षसमाविष्टौ युयुधाते न तस्थतुः ॥

Transliteration

śṛṇvantāv api tau vākyaṃ brahmaṇo 'vyakta-janmanaḥ /

kopāmarṣa-samāviṣṭau yuyudhāte na tasthatuḥ

Translation

அவ்யக்த-ஜன்மனான பிரம்மாவின் சொற்களை கேட்டும், அந்த இருவரும்—கோபமும் மனக்கசப்பும் ஆட்கொண்டவர்களாய்—போரிட்டுக் கொண்டே இருந்தனர்; நிற்கவில்லை।

Word by Word

• शृण्वन्तौ: (the two) listening
• शृण्वन्तौ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; तौ इति विशेषण

• अपि: even, although
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = ‘even/also’ (particle)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• वाक्यम्: speech, words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• अव्यक्तजन्मनः: whose birth is unmanifest
• अव्यक्तजन्मनः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-व्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (avyaktaṃ janma yasya = “whose birth is unmanifest”); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ब्रह्मणः इति विशेषण

• कोपामर्षसमाविष्टौ: possessed by anger and resentment
• कोपामर्षसमाविष्टौ: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक) + अमर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्-आ-विश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कोप-अमर्षेण समाविष्टौ = “possessed by anger and indignation”); समाविष्ट = क्त-कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; तौ इति विशेषण

• युयुधाते: they two fought
• युयुधाते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; आत्मनेपद

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• तस्थतुः: they two stood/stopped
• तस्थतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

Speakers

• Narrative voice; Brahmā’s counsel is referenced

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "raudra", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Brahmā

Key Themes

• Obstinacy in anger
• Ignoring wise counsel
• Escalation requiring stronger resolution

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Hearing advice is not the same as receiving it. When kopa and amarṣa dominate, even authoritative instruction fails; this implies the need for inner discipline and, at times, decisive corrective power.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Didactic narrative illustrating the mechanics of adharma (anger/resentment) within mythic history; not a direct pañcalakṣaṇa enumeration.

What is the esoteric significance?

Brahmā’s ‘Unmanifest’ epithet points to subtle truth; yet the combatants remain bound to gross agitation. Symbolically, when consciousness is seized by reactive patterns, even subtle insight cannot immediately arrest the momentum.