Shloka 10

Adhyaya 6 — Balarama’s Dilemma, Drunken Wanderings in Revata’s Grove, and the Slaying of the Suta

Sanskrit

स शृण्वन् प्रीतिजननान् बहून् मदकलान् शुभान् ।

श्रोतरम्यान् सुमधुरान् शब्दान् खगमुखेरितान् ॥

Transliteration

sa śṛṇvan prītijananān bahūn madakalān śubhān |

śrotraramyān sumadhurān śabdān khagamukheritān ||

Translation

اس نے پرندوں کے منہ سے نکلنے والی بہت سی مبارک آوازیں سنیں—جو خوشی بخشنے والی، اپنی دلکشی میں ہلکی سی سرشاری پیدا کرنے والی، کانوں کو بھلی لگنے والی اور نہایت شیریں تھیں۔

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शृण्वन्: hearing
• शृण्वन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण—‘hearing’

• प्रीति-जननान्: producing delight
• प्रीति-जननान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + जनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘शब्दान्’ इत्यस्य

• बहून्: many
• बहून्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘शब्दान्’

• मद-कलान्: intoxicatingly sweet/soft (in tone)
• मद-कलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद (प्रातिपदिक) + कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘शब्दान्’

• शुभान्: auspicious, pleasant
• शुभान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘शब्दान्’

• श्रोत्र-रम्यान्: pleasing to the ear
• श्रोत्र-रम्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रोत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘शब्दान्’

• सु-मधुरान्: very sweet
• सु-मधुरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय-उपसर्ग/उपपद) + मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘सु’ = अत्यर्थे (very) उपपद; विशेषण—‘शब्दान्’

• शब्दान्: sounds
• शब्दान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• खग-मुख-ईरितान्: uttered by birds’ mouths
• खग-मुख-ईरितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + ईरित (कृदन्त; √ईर्/ईरय् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण—‘शब्दान्’

Speakers

• Narrator describing the listener’s experience; contextually tied to the Dharmapakshis (wise birds) frame

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Frame narrative
• Dharma instruction setting
• Auspicious speech (śubha-vāk)
• Didactic atmosphere

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse foregrounds the purāṇic ideal that dharma is best received through śubha-vāk—speech that is auspicious, gentle, and pleasing. The ‘sweetness’ and ‘ear-delight’ are not mere aesthetics: they signal that instruction should be conveyed without harshness, making the listener receptive to ethical teaching.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse is primarily part of the narrative frame (ākhyāna/upa-ākhyāna) that enables later exposition. It does not directly state sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa/manvantara/vaṃśānucarita, but functions as connective tissue introducing the didactic setting in which such pañcalakṣaṇa materials can be delivered.

What is the esoteric significance?

Bird-uttered ‘sweet sounds’ can be read symbolically as natural wisdom (prakṛti) voicing dharma in an uncontrived form. The phrase madakalā suggests a subtle ‘rapture’—the mind becomes lightly absorbed, a preparatory state akin to calm attentiveness that precedes deeper instruction and discernment (viveka).