Shloka 77

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

Sanskrit

यस्माच्च युष्माभिरहं प्रणिपत्य प्रसादितः ।

तस्मात् तिर्यक्त्वमापन्नाः परं ज्ञानमवाप्स्यथ ॥

Transliteration

yasmācca yuṣmābhir ahaṃ praṇipatya prasāditaḥ / tasmāt tiryaktvam āpannāḥ paraṃ jñānam avāpsyatha

Translation

Sapagkat kayo’y yumukod at sumamba sa akin at sa gayon ay nakalugod (nakapagpahinuhod) sa akin, kaya—bagaman kayo’y nahulog sa kalagayang hayop—makakamtan ninyo ang pinakamataas na kaalaman.

Word by Word

• yasmāt: since/because
• yasmāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (since/from which reason)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• yuṣmābhiḥ: by you (all)
• yuṣmābhiḥ: Karana (करण/Agent-in-instrumental with passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• praṇipatya: having bowed down
• praṇipatya: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-ṇi-pat (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: अव्ययभाव-कृतान्त (gerund/क्त्वान्त: ल्यप्), क्रियाविशेषण (having bowed)

• prasāditaḥ: was pleased/propitiated
• prasāditaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate to aham)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-sad (धातु) + ṇic (causative) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृतान्त (causative past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि (was propitiated/pleased)

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; तस्मात् (therefore/from that)

• tiryaktvam: animal state / being a beast
• tiryaktvam: Karma (कर्म/Object of āpannāḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tiryaktva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āpannāḥ: having attained/entered
• āpannāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-pad (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृतान्त (past active participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि (having attained)

• param: supreme
• param: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to jñānam)

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• avāpsyatha: you will obtain
• avāpsyatha: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-āp (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speakers

• A revered sage/authority figure addressing the wise birds (Dharmapakṣis) within the Markandeya Purana frame narrative

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Grace (prasāda)
• Karmic consequence and upliftment
• Jñāna (liberating knowledge)
• Frame narrative (birds as teachers/recipients)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even an adverse birth (tiryaktva) does not permanently bar one from liberation-oriented knowledge when humility (praṇipāta) and sincere approach to a worthy teacher/authority evoke grace (prasāda). Ethically, it reinforces reverence, teachability, and the idea that inner fitness can override external circumstance.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily aligned with Vaṃśānucarita / ethical instruction embedded in narrative framing rather than direct Sarga/Pratisarga/Manvantara/Vaṃśa cataloging. It functions as a didactic assurance within the Purāṇic dialogue structure.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Animal state’ (tiryaktva) can be read symbolically as consciousness dominated by instinct and limitation; ‘bowing’ signifies ego-surrender. The verse intimates that surrender and receptivity transform constrained awareness into access to para-jñāna (supreme insight), suggesting liberation is ultimately a matter of inner turning rather than social or biological status.