Shloka 21

Gaṅgā-Tīrtha Darśana and the Prelude to the Yavakrīta–Indra Exemplum (लोमश-युधिष्ठिर संवादः)

Devanagari script

ततो महानुदतिष्ठन्निनाद- स्तृष्णींभूतं सूतपुत्र॑ निशम्य | अधोमुखं ध्यानपरं तदानी- मष्टावक्रं चाप्युदीर्यन्तमेव,लोमशजी कहते हैं--इतना सुनते ही सूतपुत्र बन्दी चुप हो गया और मुँह नीचा किये किसी भारी सोच-विचारमें पड़ गया। इधर अष्टावक्र बोलते ही रहे, यह सब देख दर्शकों और श्रोताओंमें महान्‌ कोलाहल मच गया

Transliteration

tato mahān udatiṣṭhan ninādaḥ tṛṣṇīmbhūtaṃ sūtaputraṃ niśamya | adhomukhaṃ dhyānaparaṃ tadānīm aṣṭāvakraṃ cāpy udīryantam eva ||

Translation

Da erhob sich ein großer Aufruhr. Als man hörte, dass der Sohn des Sūta (Bandin) verstummt war—das Gesicht gesenkt, in Gedanken versunken—sprach Aṣṭāvakra unbeirrt weiter; und als die Versammelten dies sahen, brachen Zuschauer und Zuhörer in lautes Getöse aus.

Word by Word

• {'tataḥ': 'then, thereafter', 'mahān': 'great, mighty', 'udatiṣṭhat': 'arose, sprang up', 'ninādaḥ': 'uproar, loud sound, clamour', 'tṛṣṇīmbhūtam': 'become silent, fallen quiet', 'sūtaputram': 'the son of a sūta (charioteer-bard caste)

• here Bandin', 'niśamya': 'having heard, noticing', 'adhomukham': 'with face lowered, downcast', 'dhyānaparam': 'intent on thought/meditation

• absorbed in reflection', 'tadānīm': 'at that time, then', 'aṣṭāvakram': 'Aṣṭāvakra (the sage)', 'ca api': 'and also, moreover', 'udīryantam': 'speaking forth, continuing to utter', 'eva': 'indeed, just'}

Speaker

अद्टावक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Aṣṭāvakra
• Bandin (Sūtaputra)
• Lomaśa (narrator in the prose gloss)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When pride is challenged by clear reasoning and fearless speech, the first sign of transformation is silence and inward reflection. The verse highlights the ethical power of truth in debate: it compels self-examination rather than mere noise or retaliation.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Aṣṭāvakra’s words, Bandin (the sūta’s son) becomes quiet, lowers his face, and appears lost in thought. Aṣṭāvakra continues speaking, and the audience—seeing Bandin’s silence—erupts into a loud commotion.