Shloka 38

Nāga-āyatana-darśana-pratīkṣā — The Brāhmaṇa’s Request and Waiting on the Gomatī

Devanagari script

आततपत्रेण सदृशे शिरसी देवयोस्तयो: । एवं लक्षणसम्पन्नौ महापुरुषसंज्ञिती

Transliteration

ātapatreṇa sadṛśe śirasī devayos tayoḥ | evaṃ lakṣaṇasampannau mahāpuruṣasaṃjñitī |

Translation

Kepala kedua makhluk ilahi itu tampak laksana payung kebesaran. Melihat dua mahāpuruṣa yang lengkap dengan tanda-tanda mujur itu, Nārada dipenuhi sukacita; dan Nara serta Nārāyaṇa pun menyambutnya dengan hormat serta menanyakan kesejahteraannya.

Word by Word

• {'ātapatra': 'parasol

• symbol of eminence and auspicious sovereignty', 'ātapatreṇa': 'with/like a parasol (instrumental singular)', 'sadṛśa': 'similar, resembling', 'śiras': 'head', 'śirasī': 'two heads (dual)', 'deva': 'god

• divine being', 'devayoḥ': 'of the two gods (genitive dual)', 'tayoḥ': 'of those two (genitive dual)', 'evaṃ': 'thus

• in this manner', 'lakṣaṇa': 'mark, sign

• auspicious characteristic', 'sampanna': 'endowed with

• possessed of', 'lakṣaṇasampannau': 'endowed with auspicious marks (dual)', 'mahāpuruṣa': 'great person

• exalted being (often with connotations of ideal marks)', 'saṃjñitin': 'so-called

• designated as', 'mahāpuruṣasaṃjñitī': 'designated as ‘great persons’ (dual)', 'Vaiśampāyana': 'the narrator speaking to Janamejaya'}

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Nārada
• Nara
• Nārāyaṇa
• ātapatra (royal parasol)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic recognition and conduct: true greatness is signaled by auspicious qualities and is expressed through proper hospitality—honoring a guest (especially a sage) and inquiring after their welfare.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Nara and Nārāyaṇa as visibly divine and auspicious (their heads likened to royal parasols). Nārada becomes delighted upon seeing them, and they respectfully welcome him and ask about his well-being.