Shloka 20

Pitāmaha-sabhā-varṇana & Hariścandra-māhātmya

Description of Brahmā’s Assembly and the Eminence of Hariścandra

Devanagari script

अथर्वाड्विरसश्वैव बालखिल्या मरीचिपा: । मनो&न्‍्तरिक्षं विद्याश्व वायुस्तेजो जल॑ं मही

Transliteration

atharvāḍvirasaś caiva bālakhilyā marīcipāḥ | mano 'ntarikṣaṃ vidyāś ca vāyus tejo jalaṃ mahī ||

Translation

అథర్వుడు, అంగిరసులు, సూర్యకిరణాలను పానముచేసే బాలఖిల్యులు, మరీచిపులు; అలాగే మనస్సు, అంతరిక్షం, విద్య, వాయువు, తేజస్సు, జలం, భూమి—ఇవన్నీ జగత్తు తత్త్వాలు మరియు కారణాలకు అధిష్ఠాతృ దేవతలుగా చెప్పబడతాయి।

Word by Word

• अथर्वाः: Atharvans (a class of sages/priests)
• अथर्वाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अथर्वन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• द्विरसाः: the ‘two-juiced/two-flavoured’ ones (a named class/group)
• द्विरसाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विरस
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• बालखिल्याः: Bālakhilyas (a class of sages)
• बालखिल्याः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालखिल्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मरीचिपाः: drinkers of rays (sun-ray drinkers)
• मरीचिपाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरीचिप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अन्तरिक्षम्: mid-space/atmosphere
• अन्तरिक्षम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तरिक्ष
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• विद्याः: knowledges/branches of learning
• विद्याः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• वायुः: wind/air
• वायुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तेजः: splendour/fire-energy
• तेजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• मही: earth
• मही: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• नारद (Nārada)
• अथर्वा (Atharvā)
• अङ्गिरसः (Aṅgirasaḥ)
• बालखिल्याः (Bālakhilyāḥ)
• मरीचिपाः (Marīcipāḥ)
• मनः (Mind)
• अन्तरिक्षम् (Antarikṣa)
• विद्या (Knowledge)
• वायुः (Vāyu)
• तेजः (Tejas/Fire)
• जलम् (Water)
• मही (Earth)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames the world as governed by presiding powers—ṛṣis and deities connected with cosmic functions (mind, space, knowledge, and the elements). Ethically, it supports a worldview where order (ṛta/dharma) is maintained through recognized principles and their divine custodians.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is listing revered seers and cosmic principles as part of a broader enumeration of the powers/agents involved in creation and governance of the universe, identifying them as significant presences within the epic’s cosmological discourse.