Shloka 17
Pātāla-varṇana (Nārada’s Description of the Netherworld) / पातालवर्णनम्
अत्र राक्षसजात्यश्ष दैत्यजात्यक्षु मातले । दिव्यप्रहरणाश्चासन् पूर्वदैवतनिर्मिता:,मातले! इन स्थानोंमें राक्षस और दैत्यजातिके लोग रहते हैं। यहाँ दैत्योंके बनाये हुए बहुत-से दिव्यास्त्र भी रहे हैं
atra rākṣasa-jātyaś ca daitya-jātyaś ca mātale | divya-praharaṇāś cāsan pūrva-daivata-nirmitāḥ ||
Wika ni Kaṇva: “Dito, O Mātali, naninirahan ang mga nilalang na mula sa lahing Rākṣasa at Daitya. At dito rin naroroon ang maraming banal na sandata—mga sinaunang kagamitang pandigma na nilikha noong unang panahon ng mga diyos.”
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that extraordinary power (divine weapons) exists even in perilous, morally ambiguous spaces inhabited by hostile beings; such power demands discernment and restraint, since its mere availability does not justify its use.
Kaṇva is pointing out to Mātali that the region they are observing is inhabited by Rākṣasas and Daityas, and that many ancient, god-made divine weapons are present there—marking the place as both formidable and significant.