Shloka 9

Means to Attain Vaikuṇṭha: The Glory of House-Donation and the Viṣṇudūtas–Yamadūtas Episode

Devanagari script

नारदेन पुरा ब्रह्मा पृष्टः संसारसंभवः । वेधास्तं कथयामास तच्छृणुष्व महामुने

Transliteration

nāradena purā brahmā pṛṣṭaḥ saṃsārasaṃbhavaḥ | vedhāstaṃ kathayāmāsa tacchṛṇuṣva mahāmune

Translation

قدیم زمانے میں نارَد نے برہما سے سنسار کی پیدائش کے بارے میں سوال کیا؛ تب وِدھاتا (ویدھاس) نے اسے بیان کیا—اے مہامُنی، اسے سنو۔

Word by Word

नारदेनby Nārada

पुराformerly

ब्रह्माBrahmā

पृष्टःwas asked

संसारसंभवःthe origin of saṃsāra

वेधाःVedhā (Brahmā)

तम्that (topic)

कथयामासnarrated/told

तत्that

शृणुष्वlisten

महामुनेO great sage

Speaker

Narrator (introducing Brahmā’s response to Nārada)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Samsāra’s origin is approached through śāstric inquiry (praśna) and authoritative revelation (Brahmā’s explanation), emphasizing the Purāṇic method: question → narrative → dharma conclusion.

Application: Cultivate disciplined questioning with humility; seek answers from reliable sources and then ‘listen’ (śṛṇuṣva) with sustained attention—turning curiosity into transformation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a luminous celestial hall, Nārada stands with vīṇā in hand, head slightly bowed, asking Brahmā—four-faced, seated upon a vast lotus—about the birth of samsāra. The air is filled with floating palm-leaf manuscripts and subtle spirals of cosmic wind, as if the universe is about to be narrated into clarity.","primary_figures":["Brahmā","Nārada"],"setting":"Brahmaloka lotus-throne pavilion with cloud-like terraces and manuscript stands","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["celestial white","lotus pink","antique gold","turquoise","sandalwood brown"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Brahmā on an expansive lotus with four faces and gold-leaf halo, Nārada with vīṇā in reverent inquiry; ornate pillars, embossed gold clouds, rich maroon and emerald garments, gem-like detailing on crowns and ornaments.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate teacher-student moment—Nārada asking, Brahmā responding; delicate lines, soft pastel sky, lotus platform, refined expressions, Himalayan-like cloud bands and gentle gradients.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: symmetrical composition—Brahmā centered on lotus, Nārada to the side with vīṇā; bold outlines, natural pigments, large expressive eyes, temple-wall framing with floral motifs.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central lotus medallion with Brahmā, Nārada at the edge with vīṇā; dense lotus and vine borders, deep blue background with gold highlights, stylized clouds and manuscript motifs."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["tanpura drone","soft vīṇā phrases","temple bells","gentle wind","silence at the word śṛṇuṣva"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: संसारसंभवः → संसार-सम्भवः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); वेधास्तं → वेधाः तम्; तच्छृणुष्व → तत् शृणुष्व; महामुने → महा-मुने (कर्मधारय: महान् मुनिः)

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Brahmā (Vedhās)

FAQs

Who asks the question in this verse, and what is being asked?

Nārada asks Brahmā about saṃsāra-saṃbhava—the origin or arising of worldly existence.

What is the narrative function of this verse in the chapter?

It serves as a transition into Brahmā’s explanation, signaling that a doctrinal/cosmological teaching is about to be delivered.

What ethical or spiritual emphasis is implied by introducing saṃsāra’s origin?

By foregrounding the origin of saṃsāra, the text frames worldly life as something to be understood clearly—often as a prerequisite for detachment and liberation-oriented practice.