Shloka 75

Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

सात्व॑ं जातिं श्रुतं वृत्तं भाव॑ प्रकृतिमात्मन: । कृत्यमागमने चैव वक्तुमरहसि तत्त्वतः

Transliteration

sāttvaṁ jātiṁ śrutaṁ vṛttaṁ bhāvaṁ prakṛtim ātmanaḥ | kṛtyam āgamane caiva vaktum arhasi tattvataḥ ||

Translation

Janaka said: “You ought to state truthfully your lineage, your learning in the sacred tradition, your conduct, your intention, your natural disposition, and also the purpose for which you have come here. Therefore, O renunciant, it is proper that you explain these matters as they really are.”

Word by Word

• सात्वम्: goodness/nobility (sattva-nature)
• सात्वम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सात्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• जातिम्: birth/caste
• जातिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुतम्: learning; what has been heard (scriptural knowledge)
• श्रुतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुत (प्रातिपदिक; √श्रु क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वृत्तम्: conduct/behavior
• वृत्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक; √वृत् क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भावम्: disposition/intention
• भावम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रकृतिम्: nature/temperament
• प्रकृतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आत्मनः: of yourself
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• कृत्यम्: purpose/task (what is to be done)
• कृत्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आगमने: in (your) coming/arrival
• आगमने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आगमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• वक्तुम्: to tell/speak
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु; तुमुन्)
• Form: Infinitive (tumun)

• अर्हसि: you ought/are fit
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: Present, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तत्त्वतः: truly/in reality
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्त्वतस्

Speaker

जनक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• saṁnyāsin (renunciant)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Truthful self-disclosure and transparency are presented as ethical prerequisites for dialogue on dharma: one should state one’s background, learning, conduct, intention, and purpose without concealment.

What is happening in the narrative?

King Janaka addresses a visiting renunciant and requests a truthful account of the renunciant’s lineage, learning, character, inner disposition, and the reason for coming—setting the ground for a serious discussion on spiritual and ethical matters.