Shloka 2

स्वयंप्रभा-संवादः

Svayamprabha’s Dialogue with the Vanaras

Devanagari script

वानरा यदि वः खेदः प्रनष्टः फलभक्षणात्।यदि चैतन्मया श्राव्यं श्रोतुमिच्छामि कथ्यताम्।।।।

Transliteration

vānarā yadi vaḥ khedaḥ pranaṣṭaḥ phalabhakṣaṇāt | yadi caitad mayā śrāvyaṃ śrotum icchāmi kathyatām ||

Translation

يا معشر الڤانارا، إن كان تعبكم قد زال بأكل الثمار، وإن كان هذا مما يليق بي سماعه، فقولوه؛ فإني أرغب في الإصغاء.

Word by Word

• वानराः: O monkeys
• वानराः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन (Voc.), बहुवचन (pl.)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Nimitta (निमित्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• वः: your / to you
• वः: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (Gen./Dat. 6/4), बहुवचन (pl.) (enclitic)

• खेदः: fatigue, distress
• खेदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• प्रनष्टः: has disappeared
• प्रनष्टः: Kriya-predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + नश् (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP) ‘प्रनष्ट’; पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• फलभक्षणात्: from eating fruits
• फलभक्षणात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल + भक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), पञ्चमी (Abl. 5), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुषः—फलस्य भक्षणम्; हेतौ पञ्चमी (ablative of cause)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Nimitta (निमित्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1/2), एकवचन (sg.)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (Instr. 3), एकवचन (sg.)

• श्राव्यम्: worth hearing / to be heard
• श्राव्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्राव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1/2), एकवचन (sg.); योग्यतार्थक (fit to be heard)

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• इच्छामि: I wish
• इच्छामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Pres.), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• कथ्यताम्: let it be narrated
• कथ्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.); आदेशार्थ (let it be told)

Context

'O monkeys! if you have been relieved of your fatigue after eating fruits, now tell me about yourself, if you think it can be told. I want to hear.

Characters & Entities

• vānarāḥ (monkeys)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is shown as discernment and propriety: speech should be shared in a context where it is appropriate (śrāvya), and the listener also has a duty to hear responsibly.

What is the narrative situation?

After the vānaras have eaten fruit and recovered, the ascetic invites them to explain their purpose, requesting a truthful account suitable for her to hear.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Judicious inquiry: she is welcoming yet careful, asking for a narration that aligns with right conduct and truthful communication.