Shloka 8

Plakṣaprasravaṇa–Kārapacana tīrtha-varṇana and Nārada’s war briefing (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 53)

Devanagari script

आगम्यागम्य चैवैनं भूयो भूयो5वहस्य च । शतक्रतुरनिर्विण्णं पृष्टवा पृष्टवा जगाम ह

Transliteration

āgamyāgamyā caivainaṃ bhūyo bhūyo ’vahasyaca | śatakratur anirviṇṇaṃ pṛṣṭvā pṛṣṭvā jagāma ha ||

Translation

Er kam immer wieder zu ihm, verspottete ihn aufs Neue und fragte den Unermüdlichen wieder und wieder—und ging dann davon.

Word by Word

आगम्यhaving come

आगम्यagain having come

चand

एवindeed/just

एनम्him

भूयःagain, repeatedly

अवहस्यhe mocked/laughed at

चand

शतक्रतुम्Śatakratu (Indra)

अनिर्विण्णम्unwearied, not dejected

पृष्ट्वाhaving asked

पृष्ट्वाagain having asked

जगामwent away

हindeed (emphatic particle)

Speaker

राम उवाच

Characters & Entities

Rāma

Śatakratu (Indra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that persistence in seeking answers is not inherently virtuous; when joined with ridicule (avahāsa), it becomes adharma in speech. Ethical inquiry requires humility and respect, especially toward a revered figure like Śatakratu (Indra).

What is happening in the narrative?

Rāma repeatedly approaches the person referred to as Śatakratu (Indra), questions him again and again, and at the same time mocks him repeatedly; after this repeated questioning, Rāma departs.