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Shloka 34

Adhyaya 1Jaimini’s Questions on the Mahabharata and the Origin of the Wise Birds

एतच्छ्रुत्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठो वचो शक्रस्य नारदः ।

विचिन्त्याप्सरसः प्राह विनयावनताः स्थिताः ॥

etac chrutvā dvijaśreṣṭho vacaḥ śakrasya nāradaḥ |

vicintya apsarasaḥ prāha vinayāvanatāḥ sthitāḥ ||

Nachdem Nārada, der Vornehmste unter den Zweimalgeborenen, diese Worte Śakras (Indras) vernommen hatte, sann er nach und wandte sich dann an die Apsaras, die dort demütig standen, das Haupt ehrerbietig gesenkt.

एतत्this
एतत्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootएतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
श्रुत्वाhaving heard
श्रुत्वा:
Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/absolutive)
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having heard’
द्विजश्रेष्ठःthe best of the twice-born (brahmins)
द्विजश्रेष्ठः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्विजानां श्रेष्ठः)
वचःspeech; words
वचः:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootवचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
शक्रस्यof Śakra (Indra)
शक्रस्य:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootशक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
नारदःNārada
नारदः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootनारद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
विचिन्त्यhaving reflected
विचिन्त्य:
Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/absolutive)
TypeVerb
Rootवि + चिन्त् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having considered’
अप्सरसःapsarases
अप्सरसः:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootअप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन
प्राहsaid
प्राह:
Kriya (क्रिया/finite verb)
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + अह् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन
विनयावनताःbowed in humility
विनयावनताः:
Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootविनय + अवनत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (विनयेन अवनताः = bowed with humility)
स्थिताःstanding; present
स्थिताः:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
TypeVerb
Rootस्था (धातु)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘having stood/being present’
Narrator voice describing Nārada; Nārada speaking to the Apsarases (following Indra’s words)

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Indra (Śakra)Nārada
Deva–ṛṣi dialogueCourtly/celestial etiquette (vinaya)Deliberation before speech (vicāra)

FAQs

The verse models dhārmic conduct in speech: one should first listen carefully, then reflect (vicintya), and only then speak—especially when addressing others. It also highlights vinaya (humility and respectful demeanor) as a virtue even in exalted celestial contexts.

This verse is not directly a sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṁśa/vaṁśānucarita unit. It functions as narrative framing (ākhyāna/saṁvāda) that introduces or transitions into an episode where such pancalakṣaṇa materials may later be delivered.

Symbolically, Indra’s instruction and Nārada’s reflective pause represent the governance of impulse by discernment. The Apsarases standing with bowed humility can signify the subordination of sensory allure (often associated with apsarā motifs) to disciplined counsel and higher purpose.