Shloka 9

Adhyāya 39 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on attachment (saṅga) and relational restraint

Devanagari script

सोऊहं वागग्रमृष्टानां रसानामवलेहक: । स्वजात्यानधितिष्ठामि नक्षत्राणीव चन्द्रमा:,उनकी वाणीसे जो उपदेशका मधुर रस प्रवाहित होता है उसका मैं आस्वादन करता रहता हूँ। इसीलिये नक्षत्रोंपर चन्द्रमाकी भाँति मैं अपनी जातिवालोंपर शासन करता हूँ

Transliteration

so ’haṃ vāg-agra-mṛṣṭānāṃ rasānām avalehakaḥ | sva-jātyān adhitiṣṭhāmi nakṣatrāṇīva candramāḥ ||

Translation

Śambara said: “I continually taste and relish the sweet essence that flows from their speech—words refined at the very forefront of utterance. Therefore, like the moon presiding over the stars, I hold authority and exercise rule over those of my own kind.”

Word by Word

सःhe/that (person)

ऊहंI infer/consider

वाक्of speeches/words

अग्रमृष्टानाम्well-refined, choice

रसानाम्of tastes/essences

अवलेहकःtaster/licker (enjoyer)

स्वजात्यान्one's own kinsmen/people

अधितिष्ठामिI rule/stand over, govern

नक्षत्राणिthe stars/constellations

इवlike/as

चन्द्रमाःthe moon

Speaker

शम्बर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śambara

Candramā (the Moon)

Nakṣatrāṇi (the stars/constellations)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Sandhi Notes