Shloka 149

The Manifestation of Viṣṇu’s Footprints: Vāmana–Trivikrama, Bāṣkali’s Subjugation, and the Rise of Viṣṇupadī

Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

पुरोधास्तूशना प्राह दानवेंद्रं तदा वचः । भवान्राजा दानवेंद्र ऐश्वर्येष्टविधे स्थितः

Transliteration

purodhāstūśanā prāha dānaveṃdraṃ tadā vacaḥ | bhavānrājā dānaveṃdra aiśvaryeṣṭavidhe sthitaḥ

Translation

అప్పుడు పురోహితుడు ఉశనా దానవేంద్రునితో ఇలా పలికెను— “ఓ దానవ-రాజా! నీవు కోరిన ఐశ్వర్యముల అష్టవిధ స్థితులలో స్థిరపడిన పాలకుడవు।”

Word by Word

• purodhāḥ: the priest, chaplain
• purodhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purodhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: but, indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), adversative/emphatic

• uśanā: Uśanā (Śukra)
• uśanā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uśanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); proper name (Śukra)

• prāha: said, spoke
• prāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• dānava-indram: the lord of the Dānavas
• dānava-indram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'dānavānām indraḥ'

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of time

• vacaḥ: words, speech
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhavān: you (honored)
• bhavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); honorific pronoun

• rājā: king
• rājā: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• dānava-indra: O lord of the Dānavas
• dānava-indra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• aiśvarya-iṣṭa-vidhe: in the desired ordinance of sovereignty
• aiśvarya-iṣṭa-vidhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक) + iṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'aiśvaryasya iṣṭaḥ vidhiḥ' / 'aiśvarya-iṣṭa-vidhi' = desired ordinance/arrangement of sovereignty

• sthitaḥ: situated, established
• sthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Uśanā (Śukrācārya), the preceptor/priest of the Asuras/Dānavas

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुरोधास्तूशना = पुरोधाः + तु + उशना; दानवेंद्रं = दानव + इन्द्रम्; भवान्राजा = भवान् + राजा; ऐश्वर्येष्टविधे = ऐश्वर्य + इष्ट + विधे (सप्तमी एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Uśanā (Śukrācārya)
• Dānava-indra (lord of the Dānavas)

FAQs

Who is Uśanā in this verse, and why is he important?

Uśanā is Śukrācārya, the famed preceptor of the Asuras/Dānavas. In Purāṇic narratives he functions as a political and spiritual counselor, especially on themes of power, prosperity, and statecraft.

What does “eightfold sovereignty” (aiśvarya) imply here?

It points to a traditional set of powers/attributes associated with lordship and dominion. The verse frames the Dānava ruler as established in comprehensive, multi-aspect sovereignty rather than a single form of power.

What is the ethical lesson suggested by this dialogue opening?

By placing counsel in the mouth of a royal priest, the verse implies that power should be guided by disciplined advice and principled governance—so that sovereignty is exercised with order, restraint, and purpose.