Shloka 10

Adhyaya 1 — Jaimini’s Questions on the Mahabharata and the Origin of the Wise Birds

Sanskrit

व्यासवाक्यजलौघेन कुतर्कतरुहारिणा ।

वेदशैलावतीर्णेन नीरजस्का मही कृता ॥

Transliteration

vyāsavākyajalaughena kutarkataruhāriṇā |

vedaśailāvatīrṇena nīrajaskā mahī kṛtā ||

Translation

Nhờ dòng lũ lời của Vyāsa—cuốn trôi những “cây” của lối biện luận lệch lạc—tuôn xuống từ núi Veda, mặt đất đã được giải khỏi bụi mờ (tức được soi tỏ và thanh tịnh).

Word by Word

• vyāsa-vākya-jala-oghenā: by the flood of Vyāsa’s words (as water)
• vyāsa-vākya-jala-oghenā: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāsa + vākya + jala + ogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; समासः—व्यासवाक्यजलौघ (तत्पुरुष)

• ku-tarka-taru-hāriṇā: which carries away the trees of bad reasoning
• ku-tarka-taru-hāriṇā: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ku + tarka + taru + hārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; adjective to ‘...oghenā’; समासः—कुतर्कतरुहारिन् (तत्पुरुष)

• veda-śaila-avatīrṇena: descending from the mountain of the Veda
• veda-śaila-avatīrṇena: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda + śaila + avatīrṇa (प्रातिपदिक; √tṝ + ava + kta)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; adjective to ‘...oghenā’; समासः—वेदशैलावतीर्ण (तत्पुरुष)

• nīra-jaskā: free from dust/mud (made clear)
• nīra-jaskā: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा) (predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīra + jaska (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective to ‘mahī’; समासः—नीरजस्क (कर्मधारय)

• mahī: the earth
• mahī: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kṛtā: was made
• kṛtā: Karma (कर्म) in passive construction
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with ‘mahī’

Speakers

• Narratorial voice within the opening of the Markandeya Purana (introductory encomium); not the Devi Mahatmyam battle-narration

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Authority of Veda and Vyāsa
• Purāṇic pedagogy
• Critique of sophistry (kutarka)
• Purification/clarification through right teaching

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse asserts that authentic śāstric teaching—rooted in the Veda and articulated by Vyāsa—clears the world of ‘dust’: confusion, moral uncertainty, and misleading argumentation. Ethically, it privileges disciplined learning and humility before revelation over polemical cleverness (kutarka) that obscures dharma.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse is primarily a framing encomium rather than a direct instance of the pañcalakṣaṇa topics. Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇa’s function as an instrument for transmitting Veda-grounded knowledge that will later articulate sarga/pratisarga, vaṁśa, manvantara, and vaṁśānucarita.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Veda as mountain’ suggests a lofty, stable source of truth; ‘Vyāsa’s words as a descending flood’ implies grace-like transmission from higher knowledge into the human realm. The ‘trees of kutarka’ symbolize entrenched mental formations and argumentative habits; the cleansing ‘dustlessness’ (nīrajas) points to sattva—clarity of mind—required for right discernment (viveka).