Shloka 34

Adhyaya 3 — The Dharmapakshis’ Past-Life Curse and Indra’s Test of Truthfulness

Sanskrit

कृतात्मानो द्विजश्रेष्ठा ऋणैर्युक्ता मया सह ।

जातं श्रेष्ठमपत्यं वो यूयं मम यथा द्विजाः ॥

Transliteration

kṛtātmāno dvijaśreṣṭhā ṛṇairyuktā mayā saha / jātaṃ śreṣṭham apatyaṃ vo yūyaṃ mama yathā dvijāḥ //

Translation

O pinakamainam sa mga dalawang-ulit na isinilang, ikaw ay may pagpipigil-sa-sarili; at kasama ko, ikaw ay nakagapos sa mga banal na pagkakautang. Isang marangal na supling ang isinilang sa iyo—O mga brahmana, sa akin kayo’y gaya ng sarili kong mga anak na lalaki.

Word by Word

• कृतात्मानः: self-controlled, disciplined
• कृतात्मानः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (कृतः आत्मा यस्य)

• द्विजश्रेष्ठाः: O best of the twice-born
• द्विजश्रेष्ठाः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज-श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्विजानां श्रेष्ठाः)

• ऋणैः: with debts/obligations
• ऋणैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• युक्ताः: joined, bound, connected
• युक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युक्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (past passive participle)

• मया: by/with me
• मया: Sahakari (सहकारी/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक-निपात (particle meaning 'together with')

• जातम्: born, produced
• जातम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भूतकृत् (born/produced)

• श्रेष्ठम्: excellent, best
• श्रेष्ठम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• अपत्यम्: offspring, child
• अपत्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• वः: of you / to you
• वः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (6th/Genitive or 4th/Dative), बहुवचन (enclitic)

• यूयम्: you (all)
• यूयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• यथा: as, like
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative/manner)

• द्विजाः: twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speakers

• Not in Devi Mahatmyam; speaker attribution depends on edition-specific narrative context of Adhyaya 3 (a senior figure addressing brahmins).

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "bhakti", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• R̥ṇa (sacred obligations)
• Brahminical ethics
• Self-discipline (dama/śama)
• Social bonds framed as kinship

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse praises inner mastery (kṛtātmānaḥ) as the foundation of dharmic life and links it to ṛṇa—inescapable obligations that structure human duty. It also frames righteous relationship as kinship: those who uphold dharma become ‘as one’s own,’ emphasizing responsibility, gratitude, and reciprocal care.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse is not directly sarga/pratisarga (creation), vaṃśa (genealogy), manvantara, or vaṃśānucarita. It aligns more with the Purāṇic function of dharma-upadeśa (ethical instruction), a common overlay within Purāṇas even when the immediate passage is not enumerating the five lakṣaṇas.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Ṛṇa’ can be read symbolically as the cosmic interconnectedness of life: one’s existence is sustained by prior causes (ṛṣis/knowledge, pitṛs/lineage, devas/natural order). ‘Śreṣṭham apatyaṃ’ then signifies not only biological progeny but the birth of ‘noble continuity’—virtuous outcomes arising from disciplined mind and fulfilled obligations.