Shloka 2

The Origin of the Lauhitya River

and the King of Tīrthas

Devanagari script

उपदेष्टा सहस्राणां द्विजानां शांतिदः परः । एकदंडधरः साक्षात्कूर्मवद्धरणी स्थितः

Transliteration

upadeṣṭā sahasrāṇāṃ dvijānāṃ śāṃtidaḥ paraḥ | ekadaṃḍadharaḥ sākṣātkūrmavaddharaṇī sthitaḥ

Translation

وہ ہزاروں دِوِجوں کا واعظ و رہنما، اور ان سب کو سکون عطا کرنے والا برتر تھا۔ ایک ہی ڈنڈا (ایک دَণ্ড) تھامے وہ زمین پر ثابت قدم کھڑا رہتا—گویا خود کُورم (کچھوا) اوتار کی طرح دھرتی کو سنبھالے ہوئے ہو۔

Word by Word

• upadeṣṭā: an instructor
• upadeṣṭā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upa + diś (धातु) → upadeṣṭṛ (कृदन्त, तृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक (agent noun)

• sahasrāṇām: of thousands
• sahasrāṇām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• dvijānām: of Brahmins
• dvijānām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• śānti-daḥ: giver of peace
• śānti-daḥ: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śānti (प्रातिपदिक) + dā (धातु) → da (कृदन्त, क्विप्/प्रत्ययलोप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (शान्तिं ददाति इति)

• paraḥ: supreme/excellent
• paraḥ: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• eka-daṃḍa-dharaḥ: bearer of a single staff
• eka-daṃḍa-dharaḥ: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + daṃḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhṛ (धातु) → dhara (कृदन्त, अच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (एकं दण्डं धरति)

• sākṣāt: directly, manifestly
• sākṣāt: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sākṣāt (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb)

• kūrma-vat: like a tortoise
• kūrma-vat: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kūrma (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative indeclinable: 'like')

• dharaṇī: the earth
• dharaṇī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sthitaḥ: stood/was situated
• sthitaḥ: Karta (Predicate/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthā (धातु) → sthita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Unspecified narrator (context not provided; verse appears as descriptive praise)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: river

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: एकदंडधरः = एक-दण्ड-धरः; साक्षात्कूर्मवत् = साक्षात् + कूर्मवत् (त् + क्); अन्यत्र सन्धि न्यूनम्।

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma (tortoise incarnation/allusion)

FAQs

Who is described as the 'bearer of a single staff' (ekadaṇḍadhara)?

The verse praises a revered renunciant/teacher figure characterized by the ekadaṇḍa (single staff), a classic emblem of ascetic discipline and spiritual instruction; the exact identity depends on the surrounding verses.

Why does the verse compare him to Kūrma (the Tortoise)?

Kūrma is associated with supporting and stabilizing the world; the comparison portrays the teacher as steady, sustaining, and foundational—one who upholds peace and order on earth.

What ethical or spiritual lesson does this verse convey?

It elevates the ideal of a spiritual guide who brings śānti (peace) to society through teaching, renunciation, and steadfastness—supporting others through stability rather than force.