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Shloka 56

Narrative of King Pṛthu: Chastising and Milking the Earth

इति शुश्रुम विप्रेंद्राः पुराकल्पे महात्मभिः । अंतर्धानमयं क्षीरमयस्पात्रे सुविस्तरे

iti śuśruma vipreṃdrāḥ purākalpe mahātmabhiḥ | aṃtardhānamayaṃ kṣīramayaspātre suvistare

Gayon ang aming narinig, O pinuno ng mga brāhmaṇa, mula sa mga dakilang kaluluwa noong sinaunang yugto: isang sisidlang yari sa gatas, malapad at maluwang, na may kapangyarihan ng paglilihim (di‑pagkakita).

इतिthus
इति:
Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)
शुश्रुमwe have heard
शुश्रुम:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
विप्रेन्द्राःO chiefs of Brahmins
विप्रेन्द्राः:
Sambodhana (Addressed/सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootविप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘विप्राणाम् इन्द्राः’); सम्भोधनार्थेऽपि प्रयोगः सम्भवः
पुराकल्पेin a former age
पुराकल्पे:
Adhikarana (Temporal locus/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootपुरा (अव्यय/पूर्वपद) + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास (‘पुरा’ इत्यव्ययपूर्वकः)
महात्मभिःby great-souled ones
महात्मभिः:
Karana (Source/means: ‘from/by’ sages/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootमहत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (‘महान् आत्मा’)
अन्तर्धानमयम्made of invisibility
अन्तर्धानमयम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्तर्धान (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘अन्तर्धानस्य मयम्’ = made of disappearance/invisibility)
क्षीरम्milk
क्षीरम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootक्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
अयःपात्रेin an iron vessel
अयःपात्रे:
Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootअयस् (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘अयसः पात्रम्’ = iron vessel)
सुविस्तरेin a very wide (vessel/space)
सुविस्तरे:
Adhikarana (Qualifier of locus/अधिकरण-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसु (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; अयःपात्रे इत्यस्य विशेषण

Uncertain from single-verse context (likely the primary narrator addressing 'viprendrāḥ' within the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa dialogue frame).

Concept: Purāṇic knowledge is received through lineage and memory of prior ages; subtle substances and powers (like antardhāna) exist beyond ordinary perception.

Application: Value trustworthy transmission—learn from realized teachers and tested traditions; accept that not all causality is visible, so cultivate humility and steady practice.

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A circle of ancient mahātma sages sits in a wide, moonlit grove, recounting a prior kalpa to attentive brāhmaṇas. At the center floats a broad, milk-white vessel—seemingly made of condensed kṣīra—its edges fading in and out of visibility, as if the pot itself is woven from concealment (antardhāna).","primary_figures":["Mahātma sages (ṛṣis)","Brāhmaṇas (viprendrāḥ)","Mystic milk-vessel (kṣīra-maya pātra)"],"setting":"Sacred grove with kusa grass seats, palm-leaf manuscripts, and a subtle cosmic backdrop (faint stars and a suggestion of kalpa-cycles as circular motifs).","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["milk white","silver","midnight blue","sandalwood beige","soft gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: seated sages in a semicircle with gold-leaf halos, central kṣīra-maya vessel rendered with embossed gold rim and pearly white body; the vessel partially transparent to suggest antardhāna; rich maroon-green borders, ornate lamp stands, gem-like highlights on manuscripts and water pots.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate nocturne in a grove, delicate faces of sages, cool blues and silvers; the milk-vessel painted with thin translucent layers so it appears to vanish at the edges; fine detailing of kusa mats and manuscripts, lyrical moon and drifting clouds.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines; sages with stylized eyes and serene expressions; central vessel with patterned white fill and fading border to indicate invisibility; red-yellow-green palette moderated with deep blue night field; temple mural framing with lotus bands.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central circular mandala featuring the milk-vessel, surrounded by concentric rings of seated sages and lotus motifs; deep blue cloth ground with white and gold detailing; intricate floral borders, rhythmic repetition to evoke 'heard in ancient age' timelessness."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["tanpura drone","night breeze through leaves","soft bell (single strikes)","owl call (distant)"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes: विप्रेंद्राः = विप्र + इन्द्राः (ए + इ → ए); अंतर्धानमयं = अन्तर्धान + मयम्; क्षीरमयस्पात्रे (पाठे) इति सन्ध्यन्तरः सम्भवः, अत्र पदच्छेदः: क्षीरम् + अयःपात्रे; सुविस्तरे अयःपात्रे इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

FAQs

It indicates something endowed with the capacity for concealment—typically interpreted as invisibility or vanishing from sight—describing a wondrous, supernatural property.

This is a common Purāṇic rhetorical address to learned listeners, marking the passage as part of a narrated tradition transmitted to or discussed among sages/brāhmaṇas.

It reads as a recollection or citation of ancient testimony (“we heard… in a former age”), introducing or supporting a larger narrative involving extraordinary objects or events.