Shloka 18

Pitāmaha-sabhā-varṇana & Hariścandra-māhātmya

Description of Brahmā’s Assembly and the Eminence of Hariścandra

Devanagari script

उपतिष्ठन्ति चाप्येनं प्रजानां पतय: प्रभुम्‌ दक्ष: प्रचेता: पुलहो मरीचि: कश्यप: प्रभु:

Transliteration

upatiṣṭhanti cāpy enaṃ prajānāṃ patayaḥ prabhum | dakṣaḥ pracetāḥ pulaho marīciḥ kaśyapaḥ prabhuḥ |

Translation

那罗陀说道：“诸有情众生之主（般若波提，Prajāpati）亦来侍奉那至上之主。达叉（Dakṣa）、普罗切塔（Pracetā）、普罗诃（Pulaha）、摩利支（Marīci）以及威力无比的迦叶（Kaśyapa）——这些般若波提立于梵天（Brahmā）之前奉事，承认其主权，并扶持造化依正法次第延续。”

Word by Word

• उपतिष्ठन्ति: they attend upon / stand by (in service)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्था (तिष्ठ)
• Form: Lat (Present), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (एतद्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रजानाम्: of creatures / of subjects
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• पतयः: lords
• पतयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रभुम्: the lord
• प्रभुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दक्षः: Daksha
• दक्षः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रचेताḥ: Prachetas
• प्रचेताḥ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रचेता (प्रचेतस्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुलहः: Pulaha
• पुलहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मरीचिः: Marichi
• मरीचिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरीचि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कश्यपः: Kashyapa
• कश्यपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्यप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रभुः: mighty / powerful (as an epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Brahmā
• Prajāpatis
• Dakṣa
• Pracetā (Pracetas)
• Pulaha
• Marīci
• Kaśyapa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even the highest cosmic administrators (the Prajāpatis) model dharma through disciplined service and recognition of rightful authority; order in the world is sustained when power is exercised within hierarchy, responsibility, and reverence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada describes the celestial court: the Prajāpatis—Dakṣa, Pracetā, Pulaha, Marīci, and Kaśyapa—are present, attending upon Brahmā, indicating his central role in governance of creation and the cooperative functioning of cosmic offices.