Shloka 19

Aṃśāvataraṇa-kathana (Catalog of Divine/Asuric Portions in Human Births) — Chapter 61

Devanagari script

ते प्रातिष्ठन्त सहिता नगराजन्नागसाह्दयात्‌ । प्रस्थाने चाभवन्मन्त्री क्षत्ता तेषां महात्मनाम्‌

Transliteration

te prātiṣṭhanta sahitā nagarājannāgasāhṛdayāt | prasthāne cābhavanmantrī kṣattā teṣāṃ mahātmanām ||

Translation

Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Unidos, partieron de la ciudad de Nāgarāja, movidos por la benevolencia y el afecto de los Nāgas. Y en el momento de la partida, el kṣattā (Vidura), consejero sabio, se convirtió en ministro de aquellos hombres de noble ánimo.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रातिष्ठन्त: set out / departed
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-स्था (धातु: स्था)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Third, Plural

• सहिता: together, united
• सहिता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नगराजन्: O king of cities (O best of kings)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• नागसाह्रदयात्: from affection/kindness like that of a serpent (i.e., from deep goodwill)
• नागसाह्रदयात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग-साह्रदय
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• प्रस्थाने: at the departure
• प्रस्थाने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रस्थान
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

• अभवत्: was / became
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु: भू)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Third, Singular

• मन्त्री: minister, counsellor
• मन्त्री: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्षत्ता: chamberlain / attendant (Vidura-like officer)
• क्षत्ता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• महात्मनाम्: of the great-souled ones
• महात्मनाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Nāgarāja
• Nāgas
• Kṣattā (Vidura)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical value of cordial alliances and the importance of wise counsel: goodwill between communities supports safe passage, and a righteous adviser (kṣattā/Vidura) safeguards decisions at critical transitions like departure.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group departs together from Nāgarāja’s city, aided by the friendly disposition of the Nāgas; at the moment of setting out, Kṣattā (Vidura) assumes the role of minister/counselor for those noble persons.