Shloka 19

Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances

Devanagari script

तीक्ष्णा इति वयं ख्याता भवन्तं ज्ञापयामहे । मृदुपूर्व हितं चैव श्रेयश्चवाधिगमिष्यसि,परंतु एक बात मैं तुम्हें सूचित कर देता हूँ। सारे संसारमें यह बात प्रसिद्ध है कि हमारी जातिका स्वभाव कठोर होता है; अतः यदि तुम कोमलतापूर्वक व्यवहार करते हुए मेरे हित- साधनमें लगे रहोगे तो अवश्य ही कल्याणके भागी होओगे

Transliteration

tīkṣṇā iti vayaṁ khyātā bhavantaṁ jñāpayāmahe | mṛdu-pūrvaṁ hitaṁ caiva śreyaś cāvādhigamiṣyasi ||

Translation

Śārṭūla said: “We are known as ‘sharp’—harsh by nature; I inform you of this. If you proceed with gentleness and apply yourself to what is truly for my good, you will surely attain what is beneficial and auspicious.”

Word by Word

• {'tīkṣṇāḥ': 'sharp

• severe in temperament', 'iti': 'thus

• in this manner (quotative particle)', 'vayam': 'we', 'khyātāḥ': 'well-known

• reputed', 'bhavantam': 'you (honorific accusative)', 'jñāpayāmahe': 'we inform

• we make known', 'mṛdu': 'gentle

• mild', 'pūrvam': 'first

• as a prior manner', 'hitam': 'welfare

• what is beneficial', 'ca eva': 'and indeed

• and certainly', 'śreyaḥ': 'the good

• auspicious welfare', 'ca': 'and', 'avādhigamiṣyasi': 'you will attain

Speaker

शार्टूल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• शार्टूल (Śārṭūla)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when dealing with people known for harshness, one should pursue their welfare with gentleness; soft, well-intentioned conduct is presented as a means to attain śreyas (true good).

What is happening in the narrative?

Śārṭūla addresses the listener, warning that his group is reputed to be severe by nature, and advises that if the listener continues with gentle, welfare-seeking behavior, the listener will gain auspicious benefit.