Shloka 12

शुनश्शेफरक्षा–विश्वामित्रशापः

Sunassepha’s Rescue and Visvamitra’s Curse

Devanagari script

नाथवांश्च शुनश्शेफो यज्ञश्चाविघ्नितो भवेत्।देवतास्तर्पिताश्चस्युर्मम चापि कृतं वच:।।।।

Transliteration

nāthavāṃś ca śunaḥśepho yajñaś cāvighnito bhavet | devatās tarpitāś ca syur mama cāpi kṛtaṃ vacaḥ ||

Translation

Así, Śunaḥśepha tendrá un protector; el yajña avanzará sin impedimento; los dioses quedarán complacidos, y también se cumplirá mi palabra.

Word by Word

• muneḥ: of the sage
• muneḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• tu: but
• tu: Discourse particle (वाक्यालङ्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोधार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• vacanam: speech
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव

• madhucchandādayaḥ: Madhucchandas and others
• madhucchandādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhucchandas + ādi (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘madhucchandaḥ ādiḥ yeṣām’ = Madhucchandas and others

• sutāḥ: sons
• sutāḥ: Apposition to madhucchandādayaḥ (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• sābhimānam: proudly
• sābhimānam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; manner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + abhimāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘abhimānena saha’ = with pride

• naraśreṣṭha: O best of men
• naraśreṣṭha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘narāṇām śreṣṭhaḥ’

• salīlam: casually, with ease
• salīlam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; manner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + līla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘with ease/playfully’ (adverbial accusative)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• abruvan: spoke
• abruvan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

Then Sunassepha will be protected. The king's sacrifice will continue without hindrance. The gods will be gratified. My words also will come true".

Characters & Entities

• Śunaḥśepha
• yajña
• devatāḥ (gods)
• Ambarīṣa (implicit as the sacrificer-king)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Satya (keeping one’s word) and continuity of sacred duty are presented as goals; the verse highlights how dharma can be argued through outcomes (protection, ritual success, divine satisfaction).

What is the narrative situation?

The speaker claims that if his sons comply, Śunaḥśepha will be saved, the sacrifice will continue smoothly, and the gods will be satisfied.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Truthfulness/consistency (satya-niṣṭhā) is emphasized—though it is framed in terms of ensuring the speaker’s statement comes true.