Shloka 18

Adhyāya 108: Paścima-dik—Varuṇa’s Realm, Sunset Cosmology, and Sacred-Geographic Markers

Suparṇa–Gālava संवाद

Devanagari script

अत्र सिद्धा: शिवा नाम ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगा:

Transliteration

atra siddhāḥ śivā nāma brāhmaṇā vedapāragāḥ

Translation

„Hier sind vollendete Brahmanen, bekannt unter dem Namen ‚Śivā‘, die das ferne Ufer der Veden erreicht haben.“

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र

• सिद्धाः: accomplished, perfected
• सिद्धाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शिवाः: Shivas (persons named Śiva / auspicious ones)
• शिवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नाम: by name, named
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नामन्

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वेदपारगाः: versed in the Vedas
• वेदपारगाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदपारग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

युपर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• युपर्ण (Yuparṇa)
• Śivā (a group/name of Brahmins)
• Brāhmaṇas
• Vedas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the authority of realized, Veda-mastering Brahmins: ethical and ritual guidance in dharma is grounded in both learning (Vedic mastery) and attainment (siddhi), not merely in status.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker points out the presence of a particular group of Brahmins—called ‘Śivā’—describing them as siddhas and expert in the Vedas, thereby establishing them as credible witnesses/advisers within the episode.