Shloka 73

Trita in the Well (Udapāna-kathā) — Balarāma’s Tīrtha Observances

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्ततो देवान्‌ प्राह वाक्‍्यं प्रजापति: । नैतच्छक्यं मम वचो व्यावर्तयितुमन्यथा

Transliteration

evam uktas tato devān prāha vākyaṁ prajāpatiḥ | naitat śakyaṁ mama vaco vyāvartayitum anyathā ||

Translation

Thus addressed, Prajāpati then spoke these words to the gods: “It is not possible to turn my statement aside in any other way.”

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्तः: having been addressed/said to
• उक्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then/from there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• प्राह: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+अह्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वाक्यम्: a statement/word
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रजापतिः: Prajāpati
• प्रजापतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• शक्यम्: possible
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• मम: of me/my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• वचः: word/command
• वचः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• व्यावर्तयितुम्: to turn back/alter
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+आ+वृत्
• Form: infinitive (तुमुन्)

• अन्यथा: otherwise/in another way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Prajāpati
• Devas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A solemn, authoritative utterance—especially one grounded in dharma or cosmic order—is not to be reversed for convenience; integrity of speech and decree is presented as binding.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being addressed, Prajāpati responds to the gods and declares that his spoken decision cannot be altered ‘otherwise’—signaling a fixed resolution that the devas must accept.