Shloka 11
Devanagari script
स दृष्टवा विमल तोयं सारसै: परिवारितम् । पातुकामस्ततो वाचमन्तरिक्षात् स शुश्रुवे
Transliteration
sa dṛṣṭvā vimala-toyaṃ sārasaiḥ parivāritam | pātukāmas tato vācam antarīkṣāt sa śuśruve ||
Translation
Vaiśampāyana said: Seeing that lake’s crystal-clear water, surrounded by sārasas (cranes), and wishing to drink, he then heard a voice coming from the sky.
Word by Word
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive), Active, Non-finite
विमलम्clear, pure
विमलम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootविमल
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
तोयम्water
तोयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootतोय
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
सारसैःby/with cranes (sārasas)
सारसैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootसारस
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
परिवारितम्surrounded
परिवारितम्:
TypeVerb
Rootपरि + वृत्
Formक्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Accusative, Singular
पातुकामःdesirous of drinking
पातुकामः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootपा (पिबति) + काम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
ततःthen; from there
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
वाचम्a voice; speech
वाचम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवाच्
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
अन्तरिक्षात्from the sky/air
अन्तरिक्षात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootअन्तरिक्ष
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शुश्रुवेheard
शुश्रुवे:
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु
Formलिट् (perfect), Ātmanepada, Third, Singular
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
VaiśampāyanaA
antarīkṣa (the sky/air)V
vimala-toya (clear water)S
sārasa (cranes)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
A simple desire (to drink) becomes a dharma-test: one should not act merely on impulse but heed warnings, inquire properly, and practice restraint when confronted with the unknown or the sacred.
The character sees a clear lake ringed with cranes and approaches to drink; at that moment an unseen voice from the sky is heard, signaling an impending challenge and setting up the episode’s moral interrogation.