Shloka 45

Adhyaya 4 — Jaimini Meets the Dharmapakshis: Four Doubts on the Mahabharata and the Opening of Narayana Doctrine

Sanskrit

एका मूर्तिरनिर्देश्या शुक्लां पश्यन्ति तां बुधाः ।

ज्वालामालोपरुद्धाङ्गी निष्ठा सा योगिनां परा ॥

Transliteration

ekā mūrtir anirdeśyā śuklāṃ paśyanti tāṃ budhāḥ /

jvālāmāloparuddhāṅgī niṣṭhā sā yogināṃ parā

Translation

บัณฑิตผู้รู้ย่อมเห็นรูปเดียวอันพรรณนาไม่ได้—สว่างไสวและบริสุทธิ์. เมื่อถูกห้อมล้อมด้วยพวงมาลัยแห่งเปลวเพลิง, นั่นคือการเพ่ง/สมาธิอันมั่นคงสูงสุดของเหล่าโยคี

Word by Word

• एका: one, single
• एका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मूर्तिः: form, manifestation
• मूर्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अनिर्देश्या: indescribable, not definable
• अनिर्देश्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-निर्देश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः—‘निर्देश्या’ (to be indicated/defined) + अ- (not)

• शुक्लाम्: white, pure
• शुक्लाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘मूर्तिम्’ विशेषयति

• पश्यन्ति: they see
• पश्यन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• ताम्: her/that (form)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• बुधाः: the wise (people)
• बुधाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ज्वालामाला: a garland/row of flames
• ज्वालामाला: Hetu/Upādhi (हेतु/Descriptive adjunct)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वाला (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘ज्वालानां माला’ = garland/row of flames

• उपरुद्धाङ्गी: whose limbs are covered/obscured (by flames)
• उपरुद्धाङ्गी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-रुध् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + अङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘उपरुद्धानि अङ्गानि यस्याः सा’ (whose limbs are obstructed/covered); ‘उपरुद्ध’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त

• निष्ठा: steadfast state, firm devotion
• निष्ठा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास्य ‘सा’ इत्यनेन सह

• सा: she/that
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• योगिनाम्: of yogins
• योगिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• परा: supreme, highest
• परा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘निष्ठा’ विशेषण

Speakers

• Not specified in input (occurs in early Markandeya Purana philosophical narration/dialogue frame).

Shakti Aspects

• Not explicitly a Devi Mahatmyam verse; no named Goddess form stated.

Key Themes

• Yoga
• Contemplation (dhyāna/niṣṭhā)
• Ineffability of the Absolute (anirdeśya)
• Inner vision of purity and radiance

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse points to a highest object of yogic realization: a single reality that cannot be captured by ordinary description, yet is directly knowable through purified insight. Ethically, it implies discipline and inner purification—only the budhāḥ (the discerning) can ‘see’ this luminous truth.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

This verse aligns most closely with Dharma/Upadeśa material rather than the five hallmark purāṇic topics. If mapped to pañcalakṣaṇa categories, it is ancillary instruction supporting Dharma and spiritual practice; it is not directly Sarga (creation), Pratisarga, Vaṃśa, Manvantara, or Vaṃśānucarita.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘White/radiant’ (śukla) suggests purity of consciousness (sattva) and the clarity of direct knowledge. The ‘garland of flames’ (jvālāmālā) can symbolize tapas (austerity-heat), the blazing power of awareness that consumes ignorance, or the protective radiance surrounding the realized state. The verse thus encodes an image of samādhi: unwavering absorption (niṣṭhā) in a reality beyond verbal formulation.