Shloka 11

Adhyaya 2 — The Wise Birds

Sanskrit

स गत्वा शैलशिखरं कङ्को यत्र हतः स्थितः ।

तस्य संकलनं चक्रे भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य खेचरः ॥

कोपामर्षविवृताक्षो नागेन्द्र इव निःश्वसन् ॥

Transliteration

sa gatvā śailaśikharaṃ kaṅko yatra hataḥ sthitaḥ /

tasya saṃkalanaṃ cakre bhrātur jyeṣṭhasya khecaraḥ /

kopāmarṣa-vivṛtākṣo nāgendra iva niḥśvasan

Translation

కంకుడు హతుడై పడి ఉన్న పర్వతశిఖరానికి అతడు వెళ్లాడు. ఆకాశవిహారి తన జ్యేష్ఠ సోదరుని అవశేషాలను సేకరించాడు. కోపరోషాలతో కళ్ళు విప్పారగా, నాగాధిపతిలా ఘోరంగా ఊపిరి పీల్చాడు।

Word by Word

सःhe

गत्वाhaving gone

शैलशिखरम्mountain-peak

कङ्कःKanka

यत्रwhere

हतःslain

स्थितःwas lying / remained

तस्यof him/that (Kanka)

संकलनम्gathering (of remains)

चक्रेdid / performed

भ्रातुःof (his) brother

ज्येष्ठस्यelder

खेचरःsky-goer (bird)

कोपामर्षविवृताक्षःwhose eyes were wide with anger and indignation

नागेन्द्रःking of serpents

इवlike

निःश्वसन्breathing heavily / hissing

Speakers

Narratorial verse (frame narrative voice; not Devi Mahatmyam dialogue)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

Grief and duty toward kinWrath (kopa) and offended honor (amarsha)Foreshadowing of retaliatory actionEthical tension between mourning and vengeance

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse juxtaposes two impulses: a dharmic act of caring for a fallen elder (collecting the body/remains) and the rising of kopa–amarṣa (anger born of perceived outrage). It quietly warns that grief, if yoked to indignation, can become the seed of further violence—showing how unresolved affronts perpetuate cycles of retaliation.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This is best classified under Vaṃśānucarita/Carita-type narrative material (accounts connected with beings and their episodes), rather than Sarga (creation) or Manvantara. It functions as an illustrative story embedded in the Purana’s broader narrative fabric.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘serpent-lord’ simile suggests the awakening of a latent, coiled force: anger as a powerful pranic surge (niḥśvāsa) that can either be mastered or become venomous. The widened eyes (vivṛtākṣa) signal a consciousness narrowed by passion—an inner state where discernment is eclipsed, foreshadowing karmic escalation.