Shloka 35

Adhyaya 81 — Suratha and Samadhi Seek Sage Medhas; Introduction to Mahamaya and the Madhukaitabha Origin Account

Sanskrit

दिवान्धाः प्राणिनः केचिद्रात्रावन्धास्तथापरे ।

केचिद् दिवा तथा रात्रौ प्राणिनस्तुल्यदृष्टयः ॥

Transliteration

divāndhāḥ prāṇinaḥ kecid rātrāvandhās tathāpare / kecid divā tathā rātrau prāṇinas tulyadṛṣṭayaḥ

Translation

కొన్ని ప్రాణులు పగలు అంధులు; మరికొన్ని రాత్రి అంధులు. ఇంకా కొన్ని జీవులు పగలు రాత్రి రెండింటిలోనూ సమానంగా చూస్తాయి.

Word by Word

• divā-andhāḥ: blind in daytime
• divā-andhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divā + andha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘blind by day’ (सप्तमी/अव्ययीभावार्थ-तत्पुरुष)

• prāṇinaḥ: creatures
• prāṇinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kecit: some
• kecit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim + cit (सर्वनाम + निपात)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); indefinite pronoun

• rātrau-andhāḥ: blind at night
• rātrau-andhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rātri + andha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘blind at night’ (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• tathā: thus/likewise
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• apare: others
• apare: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); used pronominally

• kecit: some
• kecit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim + cit (सर्वनाम + निपात)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); indefinite pronoun

• divā: by day
• divā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: divā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• tathā: and likewise
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• rātrau: at night
• rātrau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rātri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th—सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• prāṇinaḥ: creatures
• prāṇinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tulya-dṛṣṭayaḥ: having equal vision (in both)
• tulya-dṛṣṭayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tulya + dṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); बहुव्रीहि—‘having equal sight’

Speakers

• Ṛṣi speaking

Verse Rasa

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

Shakti Aspects

• Mahāmāyā (implicit: diversity/limitation of faculties)

Key Themes

• Diversity of faculties
• Limits of perception
• Illustrative analogy

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Perception is not uniform; capacities differ by nature and circumstance. Hence, ‘knowing’ must be understood relative to one’s instruments, and compassion is warranted toward those limited by conditions.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ancillary didactic passage within the Māhātmya’s theological teaching; not a genealogical/cosmic enumeration.

What is the esoteric significance?

Day/night symbolize manifest/unmanifest states; beings are ‘blind’ in one mode and competent in another. The teaching points toward the need for a higher light (devī-prasāda) beyond alternating conditions.