Shloka 45

The Lakṣmī–Nārāyaṇa Vow Narrative

Puṣya Thursday Observance and the Ethics of Fortune

Devanagari script

शिरस्यंजलिमाधाय पोष्या ब्रह्मन्समूलतः । आरभ्य सांगपर्यंतं यदूचे कमलालया

Transliteration

śirasyaṃjalimādhāya poṣyā brahmansamūlataḥ | ārabhya sāṃgaparyaṃtaṃ yadūce kamalālayā

Translation

తలపై అంజలి ఉంచి పుష్యా, ఆది నుండి అంతం వరకు, సమస్త వివరాలతో, కమలాలయా (లక్ష్మీ) పలికిన మాటలను బ్రహ్మదేవునికి వినయంగా నివేదించింది.

Word by Word

• śirasi: on (her) head
• śirasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• añjalim: folded hands; anjali
• añjalim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ādhāya: having placed
• ādhāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dhā (धातु) → ādhāya (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्): 'having placed'

• poṣyā: Poṣyā
• poṣyā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: poṣyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• brahman: O Brahman
• brahman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); address 'O Brahman!'

• samūlataḥ: from the very beginning; completely
• samūlataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samūla (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तसिलन्त अव्यय): 'from the root; from the very beginning; thoroughly'

• ārabhya: starting from
• ārabhya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Range marker)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√rabh (धातु) → ārabhya (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्): 'beginning from'

• sa-aṅga-paryantam: up to every detail; completely
• sa-aṅga-paryantam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + paryanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially; accusative-ending form functioning as indeclinable: 'up to the details/limbs; in full detail'

• yat: what
• yat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); correlates with 'tat' in next verse: 'what'

• ūce: said
• ūce: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); ātmanepada form: 'said/spoke'

• kamalālayā: Kamalālayā
• kamalālayā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamalā (प्रातिपदिक) + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); likely epithet/name 'Kamalālayā' (she whose abode is lotus / lotus-dweller)

Speaker

Narrative voice (describing Puṣyā speaking to Brahmā)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (shanta)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: śirasyaṃjalimādhāya = śirasi + añjalim + ādhāya; brahmansamūlataḥ = brahman + samūlataḥ; sāṃgaparyaṃtaṃ = sa-aṅga-paryantam; yadūce = yat + ūce.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Puṣyā
• Kamalālayā (Lakṣmī)

FAQs

What is the significance of placing añjali on the head in this verse?

It signals heightened reverence and humility—an intensified form of respectful salutation before speaking, especially to a revered figure like Brahmā.

Who is “Kamalālayā” mentioned here?

“Kamalālayā” literally means “she who dwells in the lotus,” a common epithet of Lakṣmī, indicating that the statement being reported is attributed to Lakṣmī.

What ethical or devotional lesson is implied by the verse’s framing?

The verse emphasizes respectful speech and faithful transmission of teachings—recounting a message “from the beginning to the end” with care, after offering due reverence.