Shloka 6

Adhyaya 81 — Suratha and Samadhi Seek Sage Medhas; Introduction to Mahamaya and the Madhukaitabha Origin Account

Sanskrit

ततः स्वपुरमायातो निजदेशाधिपोऽभवत् ।

आक्रान्तः स महाभागस्तैस्तदा प्रबलारिभिः ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ svapuram āyāto nija-deśādhipo ’bhavat |

ākrāntaḥ sa mahā-bhāgas tais tadā prabala-aribhiḥ ||

Translation

پھر وہ اپنے شہر لوٹ آیا اور صرف اپنے ہی ملک کا حاکم رہ گیا؛ اس وقت وہ خوش بخت راجا ان طاقتور دشمنوں کے ہاتھوں مغلوب ہو گیا۔

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• sva-puram: his own city
• sva-puram: Karma (कर्म) (goal of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; karmadhāraya: 'own city'

• āyātaḥ: having come
• āyātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (participle qualifying saḥ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√yā (या, धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'having come/arrived'

• nija-deśa-adhipaḥ: the ruler of his own land
• nija-deśa-adhipaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate nominative with abhavat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक) + deśa (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'lord of (his) own country'

• abhavat: became/was
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• ākrāntaḥ: overrun, attacked
• ākrāntaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया) (passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√kram (क्रम्, धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'overrun/attacked'

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karma/Karta (कर्म/कर्ता) (patient in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• mahā-bhāgaḥ: the noble one
• mahā-bhāgaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of saḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; karmadhāraya: 'greatly fortunate/noble'

• taiḥ: by them
• taiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता) in passive
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• tadā: at that time
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, temporal adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• prabala-aribhiḥ: by powerful enemies
• prabala-aribhiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता) in passive (agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabala (प्रातिपदिक) + ari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; karmadhāraya: 'strong enemies'

Speakers

• Narrator within the Devi Mahatmyam frame

Key Themes

• Contraction of sovereignty
• Political instability
• Suffering as catalyst for spiritual inquiry

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Status and territory are impermanent; when outer supports shrink, the person is driven to examine what truly belongs to the self.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Vaṃśānucarita: narrative of a king’s decline used as a moral-spiritual preface to the Goddess teaching.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘kingdom narrowing’ mirrors the ego’s contraction under adversity, preparing receptivity to śakti (transformative power).