Shloka 2

The Glory of Truthful Oaths and Keeping One’s Promise

Satya & Pratijñā

Devanagari script

अनृते शपथे किं वा सत्ये किंचिद्भवेन्मुने । दक्षिणं किंकरं दत्वा कृपां कृत्वा कृपार्णव

Transliteration

anṛte śapathe kiṃ vā satye kiṃcidbhavenmune | dakṣiṇaṃ kiṃkaraṃ datvā kṛpāṃ kṛtvā kṛpārṇava

Translation

Wahai muni, apakah akibat dari sumpah palsu, dan apakah dari sumpah yang benar? Wahai samudra welas asih—setelah memberi dakṣiṇā kepada pelayan dan menunjukkan belas kasih…

Word by Word

• अनृते: in falsehood
• अनृते: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• शपथे: in an oath
• शपथे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शपथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Interrogative (question word)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• वा: or
• वा: Connector (Disjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• सत्ये: in truth
• सत्ये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• किंचित्: anything/something
• किंचित्: Karma/Predicate nominal (contextual)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् + चित् (सर्वनाम + अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रश्नार्थक (indefinite: something/any)

• भवेत्: might be / should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु; √भू)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दक्षिणम्: dakṣiṇā (gift/fee)
• दक्षिणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग-शब्दस्य नपुंसकवत् रूपम् (usage), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दानवस्तु

• किंकरम्: servant/attendant
• किंकरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दत्वा: having given
• दत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु; √दा)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया (having given)

• कृपाम्: compassion/mercy
• कृपाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done/made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु; √कृ)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया (having done)

• कृपार्णव: O ocean of compassion
• कृपार्णव: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा + अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कृपायाः अर्णव इव (ocean of compassion)

Speaker

Unclear from single-verse context (likely a disciple/questioner addressing a sage, ‘mune’)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: kiṃcidbhavenmune → kiṃcit bhavet mune; kṛpārṇava = kṛpā-arṇava (compound).

FAQs

What is the main ethical issue raised in this verse?

It contrasts the consequences of taking an oath falsely versus truthfully, pointing toward the moral weight of satya (truth) and the sin of deceitful swearing.

Why are ‘dakṣiṇā’ and ‘kṛpā’ (compassion) mentioned together?

The verse links outward religious conduct (giving dakṣiṇā) with inner virtue (compassion), implying that merit is not merely ritual but also ethical and humane.

Who is ‘kṛpārṇava’ (ocean of compassion) addressed here?

It is an honorific for the person being addressed—likely a revered sage or spiritual authority—though the precise identity requires the surrounding verses for confirmation.