Shloka 4

Adhyaya 1 — Jaimini’s Questions on the Mahabharata and the Origin of the Wise Birds

Sanskrit

त्रिदशानां यथा विष्णुर्द्विपदां ब्राह्मणो यथा ।

भूषणानाञ्च सर्वेषां यथा चूडामणिर्वरः ॥

Transliteration

tridaśānāṃ yathā viṣṇur dvipadāṃ brāhmaṇo yathā | bhūṣaṇānāñ ca sarveṣāṃ yathā cūḍāmaṇir varaḥ ||

Translation

దేవులలో విష్ణువు శ్రేష్ఠుడైనట్లు, ద్విపద జీవుల్లో బ్రాహ్మణుడు శ్రేష్ఠుడైనట్లు, సమస్త ఆభరణాలలో శిరోరత్నం ఉత్తమమైనట్లు—అలాగే ఇక్కడ స్తుతింపబడుతున్నది పరమోత్తమం।

Word by Word

त्रिदशानाम्of the gods (thirty deities)

यथाas, like

विष्णुःViṣṇu

द्विपदाम्of bipeds (humans)

ब्राह्मणःa Brāhmaṇa

यथाas, like

भूषणानाम्of ornaments

चand

सर्वेषाम्of all

यथाas, like

चूडामणिःthe crest-jewel

वरःexcellent, best

Speakers

Introductory narrator voice (opening praise in the frame narrative; not within Devi Mahatmyam proper)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "bhakti", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

Viṣṇu

Key Themes

DharmaHierarchy of excellence (śreṣṭhatva)Praise/Invocation (maṅgala)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse uses familiar exemplars of “foremostness” to ground a value-claim: within any domain there is a recognized summit (deity among devas, dharmic learning among humans, the crest-jewel among ornaments). Ethically, it reinforces the Purāṇic habit of orienting the listener toward an acknowledged highest principle or ideal, encouraging discernment of what is truly exemplary and worth reverence.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse is primarily prastāvanā/maṅgala (introductory praise) rather than a direct instance of the pañcalakṣaṇa topics. It serves as a framing benediction that precedes or supports later pañcalakṣaṇa material (e.g., sarga, manvantara, vaṃśa) in the Purāṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

Symbolically, “Viṣṇu among devas” suggests the sustaining principle; “Brāhmaṇa among humans” points to discriminative wisdom (viveka) and śāstric insight; “cūḍāmaṇi among ornaments” indicates the crowning element that completes and orders the rest. Together they imply that spiritual life is oriented by a ‘crown’ principle—an integrating highest truth that gives coherence to all subsidiary virtues and practices.