Shloka 27

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

Sanskrit

पौराणिकीः सुरर्षोणामाद्यानां चरिताश्रयाः ।

दृष्ट्वा रामं द्विजाः सर्वे मधुपानारुणेक्षणम् ॥

Transliteration

paurāṇikīḥ surarṣoṇām ādyānāṃ caritāśrayāḥ /

dṛṣṭvā rāmaṃ dvijāḥ sarve madhupānāruṇekṣaṇam //

Translation

وہ تمام برہمن جو پورانوں کے علم میں ماہر اور قدیم دیورشیوں کے کارناموں میں راسخ تھے، جب انہوں نے مدھوپان سے سرخ آنکھوں والے رام کو دیکھا تو (اسی کے مطابق ان پر کیفیت طاری ہوئی)۔

Word by Word

• पौराणिकीः: Purāṇic (traditional)
• पौराणिकीः: विशेष्य-विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौराणिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying कथाः understood from context)

• सुर-ऋषीणाम्: of gods and sages
• सुर-ऋषीणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (devas and sages)

• आद्यानाम्: of the ancient/primeval
• आद्यानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/Relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying सुर-ऋषीणाम्)

• चरित-आश्रयाः: based on (their) deeds/legends
• चरित-आश्रयाः: विशेष्य-विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चरित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पौराणिकीः); समासः—तत्पुरुष ("चरितम् आश्रयः" = having deeds as their basis)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• रामम्: Rāma
• रामम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying द्विजाः)

• मधु-पान-अरुण-ईक्षणम्: with eyes reddened by drinking mead
• मधु-पान-अरुण-ईक्षणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + पान (प्रातिपदिक) + अरुण (प्रातिपदिक) + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying रामम्); समासः—बहुपद-तत्पुरुष ("मधुपानात् अरुणे ईक्षणे यस्य" = whose eyes are reddened from drinking mead)

Speakers

• Narratorial voice (Purana narrator continuing the story context; not the Devi Mahatmyam dialogue frame)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Purāṇic tradition and authority (carita-āśraya)
• Kingship and conduct
• Brahminical observation/judgment
• Intoxicants and behavioral implications (madhu-pāna)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse foregrounds the Brahminical lens of dharma: learned observers, grounded in sacred memory (Purāṇic caritas), evaluate a ruler not only by power but by self-restraint. The detail of reddened eyes from intoxicants signals a potential lapse in rājadharma—suggesting that conduct (especially of leaders) is publicly legible and ethically consequential.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily within Vaṃśa/Vaṃśānucarita (dynastic or royal narrative/biographical episode) rather than sarga/pratisarga. It is a characterizing narrative detail embedded in an itihāsa-like account.

What is the esoteric significance?

Symbolically, 'reddened eyes' can indicate rajas (passion/impulsion) overpowering sattva (clarity). The 'carita-āśraya' learned class represents smṛti/tradition as an inner witness: when rajas rises (intoxication), the discerning intellect (dvija as symbolic buddhi) recognizes the shift and anticipates consequences in the moral order.