Shloka 39

Śakaṭa-bhañjana, Naming by Garga, Dāmodara and Yamala-arjuna, and the Move to Vṛndāvana

Devanagari script

न रेजे ऽन्तरितश् चन्द्रो निर्मलो मलिनैर् घनैः सद्वाक्यवादो मूर्खाणां प्रगल्भाभिर् इवोक्तिभिः

Transliteration

na reje 'ntaritaś candro nirmalo malinair ghanaiḥ sadvākyavādo mūrkhāṇāṃ pragalbhābhir ivoktibhiḥ

Translation

ดวงจันทร์อันผ่องใสย่อมไม่ส่องแสงเมื่อถูกเมฆดำหม่นบังไว้; ฉันใด วาทะถ้อยคำอันสัตย์และสูงส่งท่ามกลางคนเขลาก็ไม่รุ่งเรือง ราวถูกกลบด้วยคำพูดอันห้าวหาญของเขา ฉันนั้น

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• रेजे: shone
• रेजे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √राज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम (रेजे = shone)

• अन्तरितः: hidden/obscured
• अन्तरितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तरित (कृदन्त; √धृ/√इ?; प्रचलितः: अन्तर् + √इ (to go) / √धृ (to hold) अर्थे 'covered/hidden')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• चन्द्रः: the moon
• चन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निर्मलः: pure/clear
• निर्मलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; चन्द्रः इति विशेषणम्

• मलिनैः: by dirty/dull
• मलिनैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मलिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; घनैः इति विशेषणम्

• घनैः: clouds
• घनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सद्वाक्यवादः: good counsel/true discourse
• सद्वाक्यवादः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सद्वाक्यानां वादः = discourse of good words)

• मूर्खाणाम्: of fools
• मूर्खाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्रगल्भाभिः: bold/impudent
• प्रगल्भाभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रगल्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उक्तिभिः इति विशेषणम्

• इव: as if/like
• इव: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक-निपात

• उक्तिभिः: by statements/utterances
• उक्तिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: didactic-with-simile

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To illuminate dharma and truth, though the unfit may obscure it by noisy arrogance—highlighting the need for adhikāra (fitness) in receiving wisdom.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Protection of satya and sādhu-vāk (truthful, noble speech) through discernment and right audience.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Truthful, refined teaching cannot shine where arrogance and ignorance loudly cover it, as clouds veil the moon.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Choose satsanga and cultivate listening (śravaṇa) discipline; avoid argumentative environments that reward volume over truth.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s truth is self-luminous, yet its reception depends on the jīva’s preparedness—an emphasis on adhikāra within a theistic Vedānta.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Moon (Chandra)

FAQs

What is the significance of the moon-and-cloud metaphor in the Vishnu Purana?

It illustrates how intrinsic purity (like the moon’s light) can be temporarily hidden when surrounded by corrupting influences—here, the moral darkness of Kali-yuga.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the failure of good counsel in Kali-yuga?

He suggests that truthful, well-spoken instruction loses its effect among the foolish because their loud, shameless speech overwhelms and obscures what is virtuous.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even as dharma becomes obscured in Kali-yuga, Vishnu remains the supreme ground of order and restoration; the verse underscores the need to seek the divine standard of truth beyond societal noise.