Sutra 43
Devanagari script
नागप्रतिमायामन्तश्छन्नायां चैत्यच्छिद्रे वल्मीकच्छिद्रे वा सर्पदर्शनमाहारेण प्रतिबद्धसंज्ञं कृत्वा श्रद्दधानानां दर्शयेत् ॥ कZ_०५.२.४३ ॥
Transliteration
nāgapratimāyām antaśchannāyāṃ caityacchidre valmīkacchidre vā sarpadarśanam āhāreṇa pratibaddhasaṃjñaṃ kṛtvā śraddadhānānāṃ darśayet ।
Translation
With a nāga effigy concealed inside, at an opening in a shrine or an anthill, he should arrange a snake’s appearance by conditioning it through food cues, and show it to the credulous.
Word by Word
नागप्रतिमायाम्in/at a serpent-idol (image of a nāga)
नागप्रतिमायाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootप्रतिमा (प्रति+मा) / नाग
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (अधिकरणे); ‘प्रतिमा’
अन्तःinside, within
अन्तः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअन्तः
Formअव्यय; स्थानवाचक
छन्नायाम्when (it is) covered/hidden
छन्नायाम्:
TypeParticiple (Verbal adjective)
Rootछद्
Formभूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी; ‘छन्ना’ = covered/hidden
चand
च:
TypeParticle
Rootच
Formसमुच्चयार्थक अव्यय
चैत्यच्छिद्रेin a hole/opening in a shrine (caitya)
चैत्यच्छिद्रे:
TypeNoun
Rootछिद्र / चैत्य
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (अधिकरणे); ‘छिद्र’
वल्मीकच्छिद्रेin a hole in an ant-hill
वल्मीकच्छिद्रे:
TypeNoun
Rootछिद्र / वल्मीक
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (अधिकरणे); ‘छिद्र’
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक अव्यय
सर्पदर्शनम्a showing/appearance of a snake
सर्पदर्शनम्:
TypeNoun
Rootदर्शन / सर्प
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; ‘दर्शन’
आहारेणby means of food (bait)
आहारेण:
TypeNoun
Rootआहार
Formपुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (करणे)
प्रतिबद्धसंज्ञम्with its response conditioned/controlled (trained)
प्रतिबद्धसंज्ञम्:
TypeAdjectival compound
Rootसंज्ञा / प्रतिबद्ध
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘संज्ञ’ = (having) a conditioned/controlled response; qualifies ‘सर्पदर्शनम्’ (or implied ‘सर्पम्’ in the trick)
कृत्वाhaving made/done
कृत्वा:
TypeGerund
Rootकृ
Formक्त्वान्त अव्यय; पूर्वकर्म
श्रद्दधानानाम्of the credulous/believing (people)
श्रद्दधानानाम्:
TypeParticiple (Verbal adjective)
Rootश्रद्-धा (श्रद्धा धा) / श्रद्दधान
Formवर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्राय), पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, षष्ठी; ‘श्रद्दधान’ = विश्वासं कुर्वत्
दर्शयेत्he should show (make them see)
दर्शयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
Formलोट्/विधिलिङ् (आज्ञा/विधि), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense ‘दर्शयति’ = cause to see/show
Entities Mentioned
T
trained snake/handlerC
credulous publicS
shrine/anthill siteFAQs
Classical conditioning: train an animal to appear on cue (food), then frame the event as supernatural.
Such sites are culturally associated with serpents and sanctity, increasing plausibility and reducing scrutiny.