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Shloka 20

Nārada and Aṅgirā Instruct Citraketu: Impermanence, Ātma-Tattva, and Mantra-Upadeśa

तदैव ते परं ज्ञानं ददामि गृहमागत: । ज्ञात्वान्याभिनिवेशं ते पुत्रमेव ददाम्यहम् ॥ २० ॥

tadaiva te paraṁ jñānaṁ dadāmi gṛham āgataḥ jñātvānyābhiniveśaṁ te putram eva dadāmy aham

Lorsque je vins d’abord dans ta demeure, je pouvais te donner la connaissance transcendante suprême; mais voyant ton esprit absorbé par le matériel, je ne te donnai qu’un fils, cause de joie puis de lamentation.

tadāthen
tadā:
Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण/Time)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottadā (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya, temporal adverb (कालवाचक)
evaindeed
eva:
Nipata (निपात/Emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya, emphatic particle (निपात)
teto you
te:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
TypeNoun
Roottvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular
paramsupreme
param:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootpara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative Singular; adjective qualifying jñānam
jñānamknowledge
jñānam:
Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
TypeNoun
Rootjñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
dadāmiI give
dadāmi:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√dā (धातु दा)
FormPresent (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular
gṛhamhome
gṛham:
Gati-karma (गति-कर्म/Goal)
TypeNoun
Rootgṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative Singular; used adverbially ‘to the house/home’
āgataḥhaving come
āgataḥ:
Karta (कर्ता; predicate of aham)
TypeVerb
Rootāgata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; ā-√gam गम्)
FormPast participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative Singular; agreeing with aham (speaker)
jñātvāhaving known
jñātvā:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√jñā (धातु ज्ञा)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having known’
anya-abhiniveśamanother attachment
anya-abhiniveśam:
Karma (कर्म; object of jñātvā)
TypeNoun
Rootanya (प्रातिपदिक) + abhiniveśa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative Singular; Karmadhāraya: ‘other/another fixation (attachment)’
teof you
te:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
TypeNoun
Roottvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
putrama son
putram:
Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
TypeNoun
Rootputra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative Singular
evaindeed
eva:
Nipata (निपात/Emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya, emphatic particle (निपात)
dadāmiI give
dadāmi:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√dā (धातु दा)
FormPresent (लट्), 1st person, Singular
ahamI
aham:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun, Nominative Singular
A
Aṅgirā Ṛṣi
K
King Citraketu

FAQs

This verse acknowledges deep worldly attachment (to having a son) while pointing the seeker toward paraṁ jñāna—supreme spiritual knowledge—showing that true relief comes through wisdom and detachment.

Citraketu was distressed due to childlessness; Aṅgirā, understanding his attachment, promised both higher knowledge and a son—using the king’s desire as an entry point to elevate him spiritually.

Seek spiritual understanding alongside responsibilities—recognize attachments clearly, and use life’s desires as motivation to pursue lasting inner freedom rather than temporary fulfillment alone.