Shloka 8

Marutta Seeks Saṃvarta’s Priestly Support; Conditions, Truth-Discipline, and Rival Powers

Devanagari script

वातप्रधानेन मया स्वचित्तवशवर्तिना । एवं विकृतरूपेण कथं याजितुमिच्छसि

Transliteration

vāta-pradhānena mayā sva-citta-vaśa-vartinā | evaṁ vikṛta-rūpeṇa kathaṁ yājitum icchasi ||

Translation

সি ক’লে—“নৰেশ্বৰ! মই বায়ু-প্ৰধান, চঞ্চল; নিজৰ চিত্তৰ বশত চলোঁ। মোৰ ৰূপো বিকৃত। তেন্তে মোৰ দৰে লোকৰ দ্বাৰা আপুনি কিয় যজ্ঞ কৰাব খোজে?”

Word by Word

• वातप्रधानेन: by/with (one) dominated by wind
• वातप्रधानेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वात-प्रधान
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• मया: by me / I
• मया: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Instrumental, Singular

• स्वचित्तवशवर्तिना: by one who acts under the control of his own mind
• स्वचित्तवशवर्तिना: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व-चित्त-वश-वर्तिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• विकृतरूपेण: with a deformed/altered form
• विकृतरूपेण: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकृत-रूप
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• कथम्: how
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम्

• याजितुम्: to make (someone) perform a sacrifice / to officiate a sacrifice
• याजितुम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज्
• Form: Tumun (infinitive), Causative sense (to cause to sacrifice / to officiate), —

• इच्छसि: you wish/desire
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Present, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• nareśvara (the king addressed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical fitness for sacred duty: one should recognize personal limitations and question whether outward irregularity or inner instability is compatible with officiating a solemn rite. It also models humility and self-assessment before accepting religious authority.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa addresses a king and expresses reluctance to conduct a sacrifice, describing himself as wind-dominated (restless, acting by the mind’s whim) and of unconventional appearance, and asks why the king would choose him as the officiant.