Mahabharata · 1.203.16–17
॥
Devanāgarī
सा विग्रहवतीव श्रीः कान्तरूपा वपुष्मती ॥
जहार सर्वभूतानां चक्षूंषि च मनांसि च ॥
तिलं तिलं समानीय रत्नानां यद् विनिर्मिता ॥
तिलोत्तमेत्य् अतस् तस्या नाम चक्रे पितामहः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sā vigrahavatīva śrīḥ kāntarūpā vapuṣmatī ||
jahāra sarvabhūtānāṃ cakṣūṃṣi ca manāṃsi ca ||
tilaṃ tilaṃ samānīya ratnānāṃ yad vinirmitā ||
tilottamety atas tasyā nāma cakre pitāmahaḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
सा विग्रहवती इव श्रीः कान्तरूपा वपुष्मतीsā vigrahavatī iva śrīḥ kāntarūpā vapuṣmatīshe, as if Shri incarnate, lovely in form, of splendid body,
जहार सर्वभूतानां चक्षूंषि च मनांसि चjahāra sarvabhūtānāṃ cakṣūṃṣi ca manāṃsi castole away the eyes and the minds of all beings;
तिलं तिलं समानीय रत्नानां यत् विनिर्मिताtilaṃ tilaṃ samānīya ratnānāṃ yat vinirmitābecause she was created, gathered from jewels grain by grain ["tila by tila"],
तिलोत्तमा इति अतः तस्याः नाम चक्रे पितामहःtilottamā iti ataḥ tasyāḥ nāma cakre pitāmahaḥ"Tilottama" — such a name the Grandsire gave her;
विग्रहवतीवvigrahavatīvaoriginal form "vigrahavatīva", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
यद्yadoriginal form "yad", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
तिलोत्तमेत्य्tilottametyoriginal form "tilottamety", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
अतस्atasoriginal form "atas", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
तस्याtasyāoriginal form "tasyā", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
"She, as if Shri incarnate, lovely in form, of splendid body, stole away the eyes and the minds of all beings; and because she was created, gathered from jewels grain by grain, the Grandsire gave her the name 'Tilottama.'"
Version
56937e998f00 · published Jul 12, 2026, 6:01:16 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here her name is explained by her very creation. It is significant that "Tilottama" — gathered "grain by grain" from all that is best — keeps the memory of her origin. Here it is shown that even a naming can be meaningful, reflecting the essence of the one named. Thus scripture reveals the meaning of a name; and the beauty that "stole minds" is destined to bring judgment upon the asuras.