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Shloka 13

Aṣṭāvakra–Bandi Vāda at Janaka’s Assembly

Numerical Cosmology and Restitution

दिदृक्षुरस्मि सम्प्राप्तो बन्दिनं राजसंसदि । निवेदयस्व मां द्वा:स्थ राज्ञे पुष्करमालिने,द्वारपाल! मैं राजसभामें बन्दीसे मिलनेके लिये आया हूँ। तुम कमलपुष्पकी माला धारण किये हुए महाराज जनकको मेरे आगमनकी सूचना दे दो

didṛkṣur asmi samprāpto bandinaṃ rājasansadi | nivedayasva māṃ dvāḥstha rājñe puṣkaramāline ||

Dijo Aṣṭāvakra: «He venido aquí, deseoso de ver al cautivo en la asamblea real. Oh guardián de la puerta, anuncia mi llegada al rey Janaka, que lleva una guirnalda de flores de loto».

दिदृक्षुःwishing to see
दिदृक्षुः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदिदृक्षु (√दृश्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अस्मिI am
अस्मि:
Karta
TypeVerb
Root√अस्
FormPresent, 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada
सम्प्राप्तःarrived
सम्प्राप्तः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-√प्राप्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)
बन्दिनम्the bard/panegyrist
बन्दिनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootबन्दिन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
राजसंसदिin the royal assembly
राजसंसदि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootराजसंसद्
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
निवेदयस्वinform/announce
निवेदयस्व:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootनि-√विद्
FormImperative, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada
माम्me
माम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
Form—, Accusative, Singular
द्वाःस्थO doorkeeper (lit. stationed at the door)
द्वाःस्थ:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootद्वाःस्थ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
राज्ञेto the king
राज्ञे:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular
पुष्करमालिनेto (him) wearing a lotus-garland
पुष्करमालिने:
Sampradana
TypeAdjective
Rootपुष्करमालिन्
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular
द्वारपालO gatekeeper
द्वारपाल:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootद्वारपाल
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

अष्टावक्र उवाच

A
Aṣṭāvakra
T
the doorkeeper (dvāḥstha/dvārapāla)
K
King Janaka
T
the captive (bandin)
R
royal assembly (rāja-saṃsad)
L
lotus garland (puṣkara-mālā)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights ethical conduct in pursuit of knowledge: even a confident seeker approaches institutions of power and learning with clarity of purpose, respect for procedure, and truthful speech—setting a dharmic tone before debate or judgment.

Aṣṭāvakra arrives at King Janaka’s court intending to meet a person held captive in the royal assembly. He addresses the gatekeeper and requests that his arrival be formally announced to Janaka, identified by the epithet ‘lotus-garlanded.’