Shloka 13

Somaka–Jantu Ākhyāna: Desire-Driven Sacrifice and Shared Karmic Consequence

Devanagari script

एतच्छुत्वा स राजर्षिध्धर्मराजमथाब्रवीत्‌ । अठमत्र प्रवेक्ष्यामि मुच्यतां मम याजक:

Transliteration

etac chrutvā sa rājarṣir dharmarājam athābravīt | aṭham atra pravekṣyāmi mucyatāṃ mama yājakaḥ ||

Translation

Als er dies hörte, sprach der königliche Weise zu Dharmarāja: „Nun werde ich hier eintreten; mein Opferpriester soll freigelassen werden.“

Word by Word

• एतत्: this (thing)
• एतत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजर्षिः: royal sage
• राजर्षिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजर्षि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मराजम्: Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira)
• धर्मराजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अष्टमम्: the eighth (one)
• अष्टमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• प्रवेक्ष्यामि: I shall enter
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + विश्
• Form: Simple Future (लृट्), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मुच्यताम्: let (him/it) be released
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच्
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada, Karmani (passive sense)

• मम: of me / my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• याजकः: sacrificer / priest (performer of sacrifice)
• याजकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: याजक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

लोगमश उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Lomāśa
• Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• rājarṣi (royal sage)
• yājaka (sacrificial priest)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic responsibility: a virtuous person may accept personal risk or confinement to secure the rightful release of another, especially one connected to sacred duty (a yājaka). It underscores compassion guided by obligation and moral accountability.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing prior information, a royal sage addresses Dharmarāja and declares his intention to enter a certain place (implying danger or confinement), requesting that his sacrificial priest be freed—suggesting an exchange where the speaker offers himself so the priest may be released.