Chapter 1 · Prathamo’dhyāyaḥ (First Chapter)
Verse 101
विलोक्य ताभ्यां गदितो भगवान् कमलेक्षणः। आवां जहि न यत्रोर्वी सलिलेन परिप्लुता ॥ १०१ ॥
vilōkya tābhyāṁ gaditō bhagavān kamalēkṣaṇaḥ | āvāṁ jahi na yatrōrvī salilēna pariplutā || 101 ||
Translation
The sage said: 'Addressed by them in this way, the Blessed Lord, the lotus-eyed one, considered (their words): "Kill the two of us where there is no earth, (a place) flooded by water."'
Word by word
- vilokya
- having considered
- tābhyām
- by them
- gaditaḥ
- addressed, spoken to
- bhagavān
- the Blessed Lord
- kamalēkṣaṇaḥ
- the lotus-eyed one (Vishnu)
- āvām
- the two of us
- jahi
- kill
- na
- not
- yatra
- where
- urvī
- earth, land
- salilena
- by water
- pariplutā
- flooded, submerged
Meaning
The demons, though tricked, try to use cunning to save themselves. They impose a seemingly impossible condition: Vishnu must kill them in a place that is not earth (na yatra urvī) but is also submerged in water (salilena pariplutā). Since the entire universe is currently a single ocean, finding a spot that is 'not earth' is easy, but finding one that is not submerged is impossible. They believe this loophole will ensure their survival.