Shloka 3

Ruru–Ḍuṇḍubha Saṃvāda: Śāpa, Mokṣa, and Ahiṃsā-Upadeśa

Chapter 11

Devanagari script

लब्ध्वा स च पुन: संज्ञां मामुवाच तपोधन: । निर्दहन्निव कोपेन सत्यवाक्‌ संशितव्रत:,फिर होशमें आनेपर वह सत्यवादी एवं कठोरव्रती तपस्वी मुझे क्रोधसे दग्ध-सा करता हुआ बोला--

Transliteration

labdhvā sa ca punaḥ saṃjñāṃ mām uvāca tapodhanaḥ | nirdahann iva kopena satyavāk saṃśitavrataḥ ||

Translation

Als er wieder zu sich kam, redete jener Asket — reich an Askese, wahrhaftig im Wort und fest in seinen Gelübden — zu mir, als würde er mich mit der Glut seines Zorns versengen.

Word by Word

• लब्ध्वा: having regained/obtained
• लब्ध्वा: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद-भावार्थ (gerundial), —, —, —

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• संज्ञाम्: consciousness/sense
• संज्ञाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: —, Accusative, Singular

• उवाच: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तपोधनः: the ascetic rich in austerity
• तपोधनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निर्दहन्: burning (as if)
• निर्दहन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्दह् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: as if/like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• कोपेन: with anger
• कोपेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• सत्यवाक्: truth-speaking
• सत्यवाक्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यवाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• संशितव्रतः: of strict/firm vows
• संशितव्रतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशितव्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

डुण्ड्रुभ उवाच

Characters & Entities

• डुण्ड्रुभ (Dundrubha)
• तपोधन (an unnamed ascetic)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a moral tension: a person committed to truth and strict vows may still express intense anger when provoked. It invites reflection on how disciplined virtues (truthfulness, austerity) should guide speech even amid righteous indignation.

What is happening in the narrative?

An ascetic who had lost consciousness comes to his senses and then speaks to the narrator (Dundrubha). His words are described as if they burn with anger, emphasizing the severity of his reaction and the gravity of the situation.