Shloka 9

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

Sanskrit

स तत्राश्रममद्राक्षीद् द्विजवर्यस्य मेधसः ।

प्रशान्तश्वापदाकीर्णं मुनिशिष्योपशोभितम् ॥

Transliteration

sa tatrāśramam adrākṣīd dvija-varyasya medhasaḥ |

praśānta-śvāpadākīrṇaṃ muni-śiṣyopaśobhitam ||

Translation

Tại đó, ông thấy đạo tràng của Bà-la-môn ưu tú Medhas—nơi các loài thú rừng hiền hòa thường lui tới, và được trang nghiêm bởi các bậc hiền triết cùng môn đồ của họ.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• āśramam: hermitage
• āśramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• adrākṣīt: saw
• adrākṣīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (अङ्ग-आगमयुक्त aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• dvija-varyasya: of the best of Brahmins
• dvija-varyasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + varya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘श्रेष्ठः द्विजः’

• medhasaḥ: of Medhas
• medhasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; (ऋषि-नाम)

• praśānta-śvāpada-ākīrṇam: filled with pacified wild animals
• praśānta-śvāpada-ākīrṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśānta (कृदन्त; √śam शम् + क्त) + śvāpada (प्रातिपदिक) + ākīrṇa (कृदन्त; √kṝ/√kṛ? here √kṝ ‘scatter’ with ā- + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (आश्रमम्); तत्पुरुष: ‘praśāntāni śvāpadāni yatra/yen’ + ‘ākīrṇa’ = ‘filled with (but) pacified wild beasts’

• muni-śiṣya-upaśobhitam: adorned by the sage’s disciples
• muni-śiṣya-upaśobhitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक) + upaśobhita (कृदन्त; upa- + √śubh शुभ् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (आश्रमम्); तत्पुरुष: ‘muniśiṣyaiḥ upaśobhitam’ (adorned by sages’ disciples)

Speakers

• Narrator within the Devi Mahatmyam frame

Key Themes

• Ashram as refuge
• Sage-disciple culture
• Peaceful dharmic space

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

A true dharmic center pacifies even the surrounding ‘wildness’; association with sages is presented as a stabilizing refuge for the afflicted.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Not a primary pancalakṣaṇa category by itself; it functions as narrative scaffolding leading into the theological exposition central to the Devi Mahatmyam.

What is the esoteric significance?

Peaceful beasts signify tamed instincts; the ashram represents an inner state where primal impulses become harmonized under wisdom (medhas = intelligence).