Shloka 183

Devanagari script

स्पर्शयज्ञं करिष्यामि विधिरेष सनातन: । “यदि इन्द्र बारह वर्षोंतक वर्षा नहीं करेंगे तो मैं स्पर्शयज्ञ- करूँगा। यह भी यज्ञकी सनातन विधि है”

Transliteration

sparśayajñaṁ kariṣyāmi vidhir eṣa sanātanaḥ |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “I shall perform the Sparśa-sacrifice; this is an ancient and time-honoured rite. If Indra withholds rain for twelve years, then I will undertake the Sparśa-yajña—such is the perennial ordinance of sacrifice.”

Word by Word

• स्पर्शयज्ञम्: the Sparśa-sacrifice
• स्पर्शयज्ञम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्शयज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• करिष्यामि: I shall perform
• करिष्यामि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• विधिः: the rule; procedure
• विधिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सनातनः: eternal; ancient
• सनातनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Indra
• Sparśa-yajña

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes that when cosmic order (such as timely rain) fails, dharma offers sanctioned, traditional remedies through properly prescribed rites; steadfast adherence to ancient ritual law is presented as an ethical response to crisis rather than despair or lawlessness.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker reports a resolve to perform the Sparśa-sacrifice if Indra does not send rain for twelve years, presenting the rite as an established, ancient procedure meant to address an extreme drought and restore balance.