Shloka 16

Gālava Completes the Horse-Gift: Garuḍa’s Counsel and Viśvāmitra’s Acceptance (गालव-विष्वामित्र-सम्बन्धः)

Devanagari script

तथा तु बहुधा कन्यामुक्तवन्तं नराधिपम्‌ । उशीनरं द्विजश्रेष्ठो गालव: प्रत्यपूजयत्‌,इस प्रकार भाँति-भाँतिकी न्याययुक्त बातें कहनेवाले राजा उशीनरकी विप्रवर गालवने भूरि-भूरि प्रशंसा की

Transliteration

tathā tu bahudhā kanyām uktavantaṃ narādhipam | uśīnaraṃ dvijaśreṣṭho gālavaḥ pratyapūjayat ||

Translation

After King Uśīnara had spoken in many ways with sound reasoning concerning the maiden, the foremost of Brahmins, Gālava, duly honored him and praised King Uśīnara greatly.

Word by Word

तथाthus, in that manner

तुbut, indeed

बहुधाin many ways, variously

कन्याmaiden, girl

उक्तवन्तम्having spoken, who had said

नराधिपम्king (lord of men)

उशीनरम्Uśīnara (name of the king)

द्विजश्रेष्ठःbest of the twice-born (excellent Brahmin)

गालवःGālava (name of the sage)

प्रत्यपूजयत्praised/honoured (in return), paid respect

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Uśīnara

Gālava

kanyā (the maiden)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Sound, justice-aligned speech—especially from a ruler—deserves recognition; the ethical response to wise counsel is respectful acknowledgment, reinforcing dharma in social and political life.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada reports that after King Uśīnara spoke at length with reasoned words regarding a maiden, the Brahmin Gālava responded by honoring and praising the king for his judicious statements.