Shloka 19

Aṃśāvataraṇa-kathana (Catalog of Divine/Asuric Portions in Human Births) — Chapter 61

Devanagari script

ते प्रातिष्ठन्त सहिता नगराजन्नागसाह्दयात्‌ । प्रस्थाने चाभवन्मन्त्री क्षत्ता तेषां महात्मनाम्‌

Transliteration

te prātiṣṭhanta sahitā nagarājannāgasāhṛdayāt | prasthāne cābhavanmantrī kṣattā teṣāṃ mahātmanām ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Vereint brachen sie aus der Stadt des Nāgarāja auf, bewegt von Wohlwollen und Zuneigung der Nāgas. Und zur Stunde des Aufbruchs wurde der kṣattā (Vidura), ein weiser Ratgeber, zum Minister jener hochgesinnten Männer.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रातिष्ठन्त: set out / departed
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-स्था (धातु: स्था)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Third, Plural

• सहिता: together, united
• सहिता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नगराजन्: O king of cities (O best of kings)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• नागसाह्रदयात्: from affection/kindness like that of a serpent (i.e., from deep goodwill)
• नागसाह्रदयात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग-साह्रदय
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• प्रस्थाने: at the departure
• प्रस्थाने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रस्थान
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

• अभवत्: was / became
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु: भू)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Third, Singular

• मन्त्री: minister, counsellor
• मन्त्री: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्षत्ता: chamberlain / attendant (Vidura-like officer)
• क्षत्ता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• महात्मनाम्: of the great-souled ones
• महात्मनाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Nāgarāja
• Nāgas
• Kṣattā (Vidura)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical value of cordial alliances and the importance of wise counsel: goodwill between communities supports safe passage, and a righteous adviser (kṣattā/Vidura) safeguards decisions at critical transitions like departure.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group departs together from Nāgarāja’s city, aided by the friendly disposition of the Nāgas; at the moment of setting out, Kṣattā (Vidura) assumes the role of minister/counselor for those noble persons.