Shloka 52

Adhyaya 18 — Arjuna Declines the Throne; Garga Directs Him to Dattatreya; The Gods Defeat the Daityas through Dattatreya’s Vision and the Movement of Lakshmi

Sanskrit

सृष्टानुवाक्यलावण्यमाज्ञामवितथां तथा ।

मुखसंस्था कवित्वञ्च यच्छत्युदधिसम्भवा ॥

Transliteration

sṛṣṭānuvākya-lāvaṇyam ājñām avitathāṃ tathā / mukhasaṃsthā kavitvañ ca yacchaty udadhisambhavā

Translation

సముద్రసంభవమైన లక్ష్మీ ముఖంలో నివసిస్తే వాక్సౌందర్యం, విఫలంకాని ఆజ్ఞలు (ప్రభావవంతమైన అధికారము), అలాగే కవిత్వ ప్రతిభను ప్రసాదిస్తుంది.

Word by Word

• sṛṣṭānuvākyalāvaṇyam: created utterance and charm (of speech)
• sṛṣṭānuvākyalāvaṇyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭa + anuvākya + lāvaṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective: ‘created speech/utterance and beauty/eloquence’)

• ājñām: command/authority
• ājñām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन

• avitathām: unfalse/unfailing
• avitathām: Karma-anvaya (object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-vitatha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ājñām)

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

• mukhasaṃsthā: situated in the mouth
• mukhasaṃsthā: Karta-anvaya
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukha + saṃsthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (udadhisambhavā = lakṣmīḥ)

• kavitvam: poetic talent/poetry
• kavitvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavitva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• yacchati: gives/bestows
• yacchati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yam (धातु; यच्छति)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• udadhisambhavā: she who arose from the ocean (Lakṣmī)
• udadhisambhavā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udadhi + sambhavā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन; ‘समुद्रसम्भवा’ (born from the ocean)

Speakers

• Dattātreya to Devas

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Dattātreya
• Lakṣmī

Shakti Aspects

• Śrī/Lakṣmī (Udadhi-sambhavā)

Key Themes

• Power of speech
• Authority
• Poetics
• Auspicious charisma

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Right speech and effective leadership are treated as forms of prosperity; Lakṣmī’s ‘presence’ in speech implies that truthfulness, clarity, and beauty of expression create success.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Instructional/ethical teaching (dharma of speech and authority) within a narrative frame, not a cosmological or dynastic account.

What is the esoteric significance?

Mouth as vāg-indriya: when speech is auspicious (śubha-vāk), it becomes a vehicle of śrī—manifesting as influence, artistry, and the capacity to shape outcomes.