Shloka 5

Adhyaya 19 — Kartavirya Arjuna at Dattatreya’s Ashram: Boons, Sovereignty, and Vaishnava Praise

Sanskrit

सदैवाहं न मामेवमुपरोद्धुं त्वमर्हसि ।

अशक्तमुपकाराय शक्तमाराधयस्व भोः ॥

Transliteration

sadaivāhaṃ na mām evam uparoddhuṃ tvam arhasi / aśaktam upakārāya śaktam ārādhayasva bhoḥ

Translation

Ta vốn luôn như vậy; chớ ngăn trở ta theo cách này. Kẻ bất lực không thể cứu giúp—vì thế hãy thờ phụng bậc có năng lực, thưa ngài.

Word by Word

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb of time)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग (common pronoun), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेधार्थक निपात (negation particle)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus/in this way
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• उपरोद्धुम्: to obstruct
• उपरोद्धुम्: Prayojana/Anukūla-kriyā (क्रियार्थक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-रुध् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), कर्तरि प्रयोग; अर्थ: ‘to obstruct/stop’

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• अर्हसि: ought/are fit
• अर्हसि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• अशक्तम्: the powerless (person)
• अशक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-शक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेष्य-रूपेण (as ‘the powerless one’)

• उपकाराय: for help/benefit
• उपकाराय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th case), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदानार्थ (for the sake of)

• शक्तम्: the capable (person)
• शक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेष्य-रूपेण (as ‘the capable one’)

• आराधयस्व: worship/propitiate
• आराधयस्व: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भोः: O!
• भोः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भोः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)

Speakers

• Dattātreya (sage) speaking

Primary Deities

• Dattātreya
• Devī/Śakti (implied as ‘śakta’ object of worship)

Shakti Aspects

• Implicit contrast aśakta/śakta can be read as pointing toward Devī/Śakti as the truly ‘capable’ refuge

Key Themes

• Discernment in choosing an object of refuge
• Śakti as enabling power
• Non-attachment to false supports

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

One should seek aid and refuge in the truly competent principle—ultimately the divine power—rather than clinging to inadequate supports; the verse also teaches not to impose expectations on one who cannot fulfill them.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Didactic counsel within ākhyāna; it supports the purāṇic goal of teaching dharma through exemplars rather than enumerating sarga/manvantara data.

What is the esoteric significance?

The aśakta/śakta polarity can be read inwardly: do not rely on the weakened, sense-bound self; worship (align with) the empowered consciousness (śakti) that alone can ‘help’ liberation and right action.