Shloka 30

Devanagari script

सान्त्वदानादिभिर्वाक्यैस्तत्त्वत: कार्यवत्तया । प्रसादयित्वा वक्ष्यामि यन्न: कार्य द्विजोत्तमा:,'श्रेष्ठ द्विजगण! मैं कार्यार्थी होनेके कारण सान्त्वना देकर दान आदि देनेकी बात कहकर यथार्थ वचनोंद्वारा आपलोगोंको प्रसन्न करके आपकी सेवामें अपना कार्य निवेदन कर रहा हूँ

Transliteration

sāntvadānādibhir vākyais tattvataḥ kāryavattayā | prasādayitvā vakṣyāmi yan naḥ kārya dvijottamāḥ ||

Translation

O best of twice-born sages! With words of conciliation, with offers such as gifts, and with truthful speech fit to the task at hand, I shall first win your goodwill and then declare what we require.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'sāntva', 'gloss': 'conciliation, soothing reassurance'}, {'term': 'dāna', 'gloss': 'gift, charitable giving'}, {'term': 'ādibhiḥ', 'gloss': 'and the like

• beginning with (dāna etc.)'}, {'term': 'vākyaiḥ', 'gloss': 'by words, with statements (instrumental plural)'}, {'term': 'tattvataḥ', 'gloss': 'in truth, rightly, according to reality'}, {'term': 'kāryavattayā', 'gloss': 'with a view to the task

• because one has business/purpose (instrumental of kāryavat)'}, {'term': 'prasādayitvā', 'gloss': 'having pleased, having won over (absolutive)'}, {'term': 'vakṣyāmi', 'gloss': 'I shall speak, I will state'}, {'term': 'yat', 'gloss': 'that which

• what'}, {'term': 'naḥ', 'gloss': 'of us, for us'}, {'term': 'kāryam', 'gloss': 'task, business, what must be done/asked'}, {'term': 'dvijottamāḥ', 'gloss': 'O best of the twice-born (Brahmins/sages)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वैशम्पायन (Vaiśampāyana)
• द्विजोत्तमाः (dvijottamāḥ—eminent Brahmins/sages)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights an ethical mode of approach: before presenting one’s request, one should speak truthfully and respectfully, using conciliation and appropriate generosity to win goodwill—persuasion grounded in propriety rather than coercion.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker indicates an intention to first please a group of eminent Brahmins/sages through soothing words and offers such as gifts, and only then to present the specific matter or request that concerns ‘us’.