Shloka 8

Durvasa’s Curse, the Churning of the Ocean, and Lakshmi’s Manifestation

Chapter 4

Devanagari script

उन्मत्त प्रेतवद्विप्रः शोभमानोब्रवीदिदम् । इयं विद्याधरी कन्या पीनोन्नत पयोधरा

Transliteration

unmatta pretavadvipraḥ śobhamānobravīdidam | iyaṃ vidyādharī kanyā pīnonnata payodharā

Translation

那婆罗门如同癫狂之人——确如鬼魅一般——虽外貌光彩，却说道：“此乃毗陀耶陀罗族的少女，双乳丰盈而高挺。”

Word by Word

• unmattaḥ: mad, frenzied
• unmattaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: unmatta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• preta-vat: like a ghost
• preta-vat: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोगः; वत्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (possessing/like); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (vipraḥ-विशेषण)

• vipraḥ: the Brahmin
• vipraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• śobhamānaḥ: shining, appearing splendid
• śobhamānaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śobhamāna (कृदन्त; √śubh/√śobh (धातु) + शानच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त (present participle, Ātmanepada sense)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• idam: this (statement)
• idam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• iyam: this (she)
• iyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• vidyādharī: a Vidyādhari (celestial maiden)
• vidyādharī: Samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + dharī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vidyāyāḥ dharī = bearer of knowledge)

• kanyā: girl, maiden
• kanyā: Samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• pīna-unnata: full and high (uplifted)
• pīna-unnata: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīna (प्रातिपदिक) + unnata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्ववत् विशेषण (as a combined descriptor)

• payodharā: having breasts
• payodharā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: payodharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुवचनार्थेऽपि एकवचन-प्रयोगः (describing her breasts)

Speaker

Vipra (a brahmin; specific identity not stated in the provided verse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: pretavadvipraḥ = preta-vat + vipraḥ; śobhamānobravīdidam = śobhamānaḥ + abravīt + idam; pīnonnata = pīna + unnata.

Characters & Entities

• Vidyādhara

FAQs

What is a Vidyādhara in the Padma Purāṇa context?

Vidyādharas are semi-divine beings associated with the skies and supernatural knowledge (vidyā). The verse identifies the girl as belonging to that celestial class.

Why does the verse compare the brahmin to a madman and a ghost?

The similes suggest loss of self-control and disturbed judgment—his speech is driven by infatuation and agitation rather than restraint.

What ethical lesson is implied by this portrayal?

Even outward splendor or status (a “vipra”) can coexist with inner delusion; the implied lesson is to cultivate restraint and clarity rather than being ruled by desire.