Shloka 7

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

Sanskrit

अमात्यैर्बलिभिर्दुष्टैर्दुर्बलस्य दुरात्मभिः ।

कोषो बलञ्चापहृतं तत्रापि स्वपुरे ततः ॥

Transliteration

amātyair balibhir duṣṭair durbalasya durātmabhiḥ |

koṣo balañ cāpahṛtaṃ tatrāpi svapure tataḥ ||

Translation

پھر وہیں اپنے شہر میں بھی، اس کی کمزوری سے فائدہ اٹھا کر، بدکار، طاقتور اور بد نیت وزیروں نے اس کا خزانہ اور اس کی فوج چھین لی۔

Word by Word

• amātyaiḥ: by ministers
• amātyaiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता) in passive (agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amātya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• balibhiḥ: powerful
• balibhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; agrees with amātyaiḥ

• duṣṭaiḥ: wicked
• duṣṭaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; agrees with amātyaiḥ

• durbalasya: of the weak (king)
• durbalasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durbala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; used substantively for the king

• durātmabhiḥ: by evil-souled (men)
• durātmabhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) / Kartṛ (कर्ता) in passive
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; used substantively; agrees with amātyaiḥ

• koṣaḥ: treasury
• koṣaḥ: Karma (कर्म) (patient in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: koṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• balam: army/strength
• balam: Karma (कर्म) (patient in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• apahṛtam: was taken away
• apahṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया) (passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-√hṛ (हृ, धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative, Singular; predicate for koṣaḥ/balam (collectively)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, locative adverb (देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• api: also/even
• api: Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात)

• sva-pure: in his own city
• sva-pure: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; karmadhāraya: 'in his own city'

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

Speakers

• Narrator within the Devi Mahatmyam frame

Key Themes

• Betrayal
• Loss of resources
• Political dharma and corruption

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Adharma within one’s own circle can be more destructive than external enemies; governance requires vigilance, integrity, and alignment of counselors with dharma.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Vaṃśānucarita in service of dharma-upadeśa: royal narrative functions as an exemplum illustrating decline through hostile forces and inner corruption.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Ministers’ can symbolize the senses and sub-minds; when they become ‘durātmā’, they plunder the treasury of vitality and the army of resolve.