Shloka 23

Adhyaya 5 — Tvashta’s Wrath, the Birth of Vritra, and the Divine Descent as the Pandavas

Sanskrit

उत्पन्नौ यमजौ माद्रयां शक्ररूपौ महाद्युतिः ।

पञ्चधा भगवानीत्थमवतीर्णः शतक्रतुः ॥

Transliteration

utpannau yamajau mādrayāṃ śakrarūpau mahādyutī | pañcadhā bhagavān ittham avatīrṇaḥ śatakratuḥ ||

Translation

مادری سے شکر (اندَر) کے مانند صورت والے دو درخشاں جڑواں پیدا ہوئے؛ یوں بھگوان شتکرتو (اندَر) پانچ صورتوں میں زمین پر اترے۔

Word by Word

• utpannau: were born/arose
• utpannau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut√pad (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• yama-jau: the two sons of Yama (twins)
• yama-jau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (yamasya jā)

• mādryām: in/through Mādrī
• mādryām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mādrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• śakra-rūpau: having Śakra’s form
• śakra-rūpau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śakrasya rūpam iva)

• mahā-dyutī: of great radiance
• mahā-dyutī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + dyuti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual); कर्मधारयः (mahā dyutiḥ)

• pañcadhā: in fivefold manner
• pañcadhā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pañcadhā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner: ‘in five ways’)

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ittham: thus
• ittham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/in this manner)

• avatīrṇaḥ: descended
• avatīrṇaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava√tṝ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• śata-kratuḥ: Śatakratu (Indra)
• śata-kratuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + kratu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः (yasya śataṃ kratavaḥ saḥ) इन्द्र-पर्यायः

Speakers

• Narrative voice of the Purāṇa (genealogical narration; not within Devī Māhātmya frame)

Primary Deities

• Indra (Śakra/Śatakratu)

Key Themes

• Genealogy
• Divine incarnation/manifestation
• Manvantara-linked chronology

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse underscores a Purāṇic idea: cosmic offices (like Indra-hood) and divine functions can be expressed through multiple manifestations, emphasizing that divine agency works through lineage and time to uphold order (dharma) rather than remaining confined to a single, static embodiment.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Primarily Manvantara and Vaṃśa/vaṃśānucarita: it belongs to the genealogical-historical stream that situates events and births within the unfolding of dynasties across manvantara time-cycles.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Pañcadhā’ (fivefold) hints at the divisible, function-oriented nature of divine power: one sovereignty (Indra/Śakra) can distribute itself into multiple loci to accomplish distinct cosmic tasks, suggesting that splendor (dyuti) and authority are not merely personal traits but transmissible, role-based energies.