Shloka 134

Brahmā’s Puṣkara Sacrifice: Kokāmukha Tīrtha, Varāha’s Aid, and the Arrival of Gāyatrī

Devanagari script

संक्षिपन्तीं मनोवृत्ति विभवं रूपसंपदा । यद्यत्तु वस्तुसौंदर्याद्विशिष्टं लभ्यते क्वचित्

Transliteration

saṃkṣipantīṃ manovṛtti vibhavaṃ rūpasaṃpadā | yadyattu vastusauṃdaryādviśiṣṭaṃ labhyate kvacit

Translation

ความมั่งคั่งทางโลกและความงามแห่งรูปโฉมย่อมบีบรัดการเคลื่อนไหวตามธรรมชาติของจิต; และคุณวิเศษใดๆ ที่บางคราวได้มา ก็เพราะความงามของสิ่งใดสิ่งหนึ่งเท่านั้น

Word by Word

• saṃkṣipantīm: compressing/contracting
• saṃkṣipantīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + kṣip (क्षिप् धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/कृदन्त); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• manaḥ-vṛttim: the activity of the mind
• manaḥ-vṛttim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (manaḥ = manasaḥ vṛttiḥ)

• vibhavam: splendour/prosperity
• vibhavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• rūpa-saṃpadā: by the wealth of beauty
• rūpa-saṃpadā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃpad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (rūpasya saṃpadā)

• yad: whatever/that which
• yad: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun used correlatively; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• yat: each whatever
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Repetition for distributive sense (यद्यत् = whatever); Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) = but/indeed

• vastu-saundaryāt: from the beauty of the thing/object
• vastu-saundaryāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastu (प्रातिपदिक) + saundarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vastunaḥ saundaryāt)

• viśiṣṭam: distinct/superior
• viśiṣṭam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + śiṣ (शिष् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त) used adjectivally; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• labhyate: is obtained/is found
• labhyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (लभ् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present/वर्तमान), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथम), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), passive sense (कर्मणि प्रयोग)

• kvacit: somewhere/sometimes
• kvacit: Deśa/Kāla-adhikaraṇa (देश/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (देश/काल-अनिश्चित) = somewhere/at times

Speaker

Unknown (verse provided without surrounding dialogue context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: manovṛtti → manaḥ + vṛtti(ṃ); yadyattu → yad + yat + tu; vastusauṃdaryādviśiṣṭam → vastu-saundaryāt + viśiṣṭam.

FAQs

What is the central teaching of this verse?

It critiques the psychological effect of wealth and physical beauty, saying they tend to narrow the mind’s freedom; apparent “excellence” often arises merely from attraction to an object’s beauty.

How does this relate to Vairāgya (detachment) in Purāṇic thought?

By portraying beauty/opulence as limiting mental movement, the verse supports detachment: clarity and higher discernment come from not being driven by sensory allure.

What ethical or practical lesson can a reader apply?

Do not mistake aesthetic charm for true merit; cultivate discernment so decisions are not governed by fascination with appearance or status.