Shloka 7

Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon

Devanagari script

एकान्तिनां च का चर्या कदा चोत्पादिता विभो | एतन्मे संशयं छिन्धि परं॑ कौतूहलं हि मे

Transliteration

ekāntināṃ ca kā caryā kadā cotpāditā vibho | etan me saṃśayaṃ chindhi paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me, bhagavan |

Translation

Janamejaya dit : «Ô puissant, quelle est la discipline, quelle est la conduite de vie de ceux dont la dévotion est d’un seul tenant (ekāntin) ? Et depuis quand cette voie est-elle née et s’est-elle établie ? Tranche mon doute, car ma curiosité à ce sujet est profonde, ô Seigneur bienheureux.»

Word by Word

• {'ekāntinām': 'of the single-minded

• those devoted exclusively to one goal/deity', 'caryā': 'conduct

• way of life', 'kadā': 'when

• from what time', 'utpāditā': 'brought forth

• instituted', 'vibho': 'O mighty one

• O all-pervading lord (honorific address)', 'etat': 'this (matter)', 'me': 'my

• of me', 'saṃśayam': 'doubt

• uncertainty', 'chindhi': 'cut

• resolve (imperative)', 'param': 'great

• intense', 'kautūhalam': 'curiosity

• eager interest', 'hi': 'indeed

• for', 'bhagavan': 'O venerable one

Speaker

जनमेजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Janamejaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames bhakti as a dharmic path with a distinct discipline (caryā) and invites an authoritative explanation of its origin and norms, emphasizing that devotion is not merely emotion but a regulated way of life grounded in tradition.

What is happening in the narrative?

Janamejaya, eager to understand the tradition of exclusive devotion, asks the revered speaker to explain how such devotees live and when this devotional dharma began, requesting a clear resolution of his doubt.