Shloka 38

Citraketu Offends Śiva, Is Cursed by Pārvatī, and Is Glorified as a Vaiṣṇava

Devanagari script

जज्ञे त्वष्टुर्दक्षिणाग्नौ दानवीं योनिमाश्रित: । वृत्र इत्यभिविख्यातो ज्ञानविज्ञानसंयुत: ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

jajñe tvaṣṭur dakṣiṇāgnau dānavīṁ yonim āśritaḥ vṛtra ity abhivikhyāto jñāna-vijñāna-saṁyutaḥ

Translation

ด้วยคำสาปของภวานี (ทุรคา) จิตรเกตุนั้นจึงไปเกิดในกำเนิดอสูร เขาปรากฏเป็นร่างอสูรจากไฟบูชาด้านทักษิณในยัญพิธีของตวษฏา แม้กระนั้นยังเปี่ยมด้วยญาณและวิญญาณ และเป็นที่รู้จักนามว่า วฤตราสุระ

Synonyms

• जज्ञे: was born
• जज्ञे: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• त्वष्टुः: of Tvaṣṭṛ
• त्वष्टुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• दक्षिण-अग्नौ: in the southern fire
• दक्षिण-अग्नौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: दक्षिणः अग्निः

• दानवीम्: demonic (asura-like)
• दानवीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दानवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• योनिम्: womb; birth
• योनिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आश्रितः: having taken refuge in; having assumed
• आश्रितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वृत्रः: Vṛtra
• वृत्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• इति: thus (named)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामनिर्देशे (quotative)

• अभिविख्यातः: well-known; renowned
• अभिविख्यातः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि√ख्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ज्ञान-विज्ञान-संयुतः: endowed with knowledge and realization
• ज्ञान-विज्ञान-संयुतः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (समाहार/निर्देश): ज्ञानं च विज्ञानं च ताभ्यां संयुतः

Purport

The word yoni is generally understood to mean jāti — family, group or species. Although Vṛtrāsura appeared in a family of demons, it is clearly said that his knowledge of spiritual life still existed. Jñāna-vijñāna-saṁyutaḥ: his spiritual knowledge and the practical application of that knowledge in life were not lost. Therefore it is said that even if a devotee falls down for some reason, he is still not lost.

Characters & Entities

• Tvaṣṭā
• Vṛtra (Vṛtrāsura)
• Dānavas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Vṛtrāsura’s birth?

This verse states that Vṛtra was born from Tvaṣṭā’s southern sacrificial fire and took birth in the Dānava lineage, yet he was endowed with both knowledge and realized wisdom.

Why is Vṛtrāsura described as possessing jñāna and vijñāna?

The Bhagavatam highlights that spiritual realization is not limited by external birth; Vṛtra’s inner attainment (jñāna-vijñāna) is emphasized even though he appeared in a demonic lineage.

Practical application of jñāna and vijñāna in modern life?

Move beyond information to transformation: study sacred teachings (jñāna) and apply them through consistent practice and sincerity until they become lived realization (vijñāna).