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Shloka 246

Jaratkāru’s Marital Compact and Departure (जरत्कारु–जरत्कारुणी संवादः)

Devanagari script

फलपुष्पोदकं नाम प्रतिग्राहयितुं नृपम्‌ तक्षकने कहा--तुमलोग कार्यकी सफलताके लिये राजाके पास जाओ, किंतु तनिक भी व्यग्र न होना। तुम्हारे जानेका उद्देश्य है--महाराजको फल, फूल और जल भेंट करना

Transliteration

phalapuṣpodakaṃ nāma pratigrāhayituṃ nṛpam

Translation

Takṣaka sagte: „Geht zum König, damit euer Vorhaben gelingt, und geratet nicht im Geringsten in Unruhe. Euer Zweck ist es, dem Großkönig die übliche Gabe darzubringen—Früchte, Blumen und Wasser.“

Word by Word

फलपुष्पोदकम्fruit, flowers, and water (as an offering)

नामnamely / called

प्रतिग्राहयितुम्to cause (someone) to accept / to present (so that it is accepted)

नृपम्the king

तक्षकःTakshaka (the serpent)

अकथयत्said / told

Speaker

तक्षक उवाच

Characters & Entities

Takṣaka

nṛpa (the king)

phala (fruits)

puṣpa (flowers)

udaka (water)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the power of proper conduct and ritual etiquette in royal settings: approaching calmly and with respectful offerings can secure access and trust. Ethically, it also shows how outward forms of dharma (courtesy, gifts) may be used strategically, reminding readers to discern intention behind appearances.

What is happening in the narrative?

Takṣaka instructs agents to approach the king without anxiety and to present a conventional respectful gift—fruits, flowers, and water—so their mission will succeed by appearing harmless and properly mannered.