Shloka 8

Dyūta-kathā-praśnaḥ — Inquiry into the Dice-Game Calamity

Devanagari script

उत्पातांस्त्रिविधान्‌ प्राह नारदो भगवानृषि:

Transliteration

utpātāṁs trividhān prāha nārado bhagavān ṛṣiḥ

Translation

Then the venerable sage Nārada spoke, declaring that portents are of three kinds.

Word by Word

• उत्पातान्: portents, omens
• उत्पातान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्पात
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• त्रिविधान्: threefold, of three kinds
• त्रिविधान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिविध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• प्राह: said, spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+अह्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• नारदः: Narada
• नारदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भगवान्: venerable, divine
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ऋषिः: sage
• ऋषिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Portents (utpātāḥ) are not random; they can be classified and interpreted by wise seers. The verse signals that ethical and political imbalance often manifests outwardly as disturbances in nature and society, prompting rulers to reflect on dharma and rectify wrongdoing.

What is happening in the narrative?

In response to the situation being discussed, the sage Nārada begins an explanation about ominous signs, stating that they are of three types. This introduces a structured discourse on how to understand warnings that precede calamity.