Shloka 22

Gaṅgā-Tīrtha Darśana and the Prelude to the Yavakrīta–Indra Exemplum (लोमश-युधिष्ठिर संवादः)

Devanagari script

तस्मिंस्तथा संकुले वर्तमाने स्फीते यज्ञे जनकस्योत राज्ञ: | अष्टावक्रं पूजयन्तो< भ्युपेयु- विंप्रा: सर्वे प्राजजलय: प्रतीता:,महाराज जनकके उस समृद्धिशाली यज्ञमें जबकि चारों ओर कोलाहल व्याप्त हो रहा था, सब ब्राह्मण हाथ जोड़े हुए श्रद्धापूर्वक अष्टावक्रके समीप आये और उनका आदर-सत्कारपूर्वक पूजन किया

Transliteration

tasmiṁs tathā saṅkule vartamāne sphīte yajñe janakasyota rājñaḥ | aṣṭāvakraṁ pūjayanto 'bhyupeyuḥ viprāḥ sarve prāñjalayaḥ pratītāḥ ||

Translation

As King Janaka’s grand sacrifice was in progress—crowded and bustling on all sides—the Brahmins, all of them composed and reverent with hands joined in salutation, approached Aṣṭāvakra and honored him with respectful worship. The scene underscores that true worth is recognized by the wise, and that learning and spiritual insight deserve public reverence even amid royal splendor.

Word by Word

• {'tasmin': 'in that (sacrifice/occasion)', 'tathā': 'thus

• in that manner', 'saṅkule': 'crowded

• full of commotion', 'vartamāne': 'while proceeding

• being in progress', 'sphīte': 'prosperous

• magnificent', 'yajñe': 'in the sacrifice

• ritual offering', 'janakasya': 'of Janaka', 'uta': 'and also

• moreover', 'rājñaḥ': 'of the king', 'aṣṭāvakram': 'Aṣṭāvakra (the sage)', 'pūjayantaḥ': 'honoring

• paying reverence', 'abhyupeyuḥ': 'they approached

• they came near', 'viprāḥ': 'Brahmins

• learned priests', 'sarve': 'all', 'prāñjalayaḥ': 'with joined palms

• in respectful salutation', 'pratītāḥ': 'reverent

Speaker

अद्टावक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Aṣṭāvakra
• Janaka
• viprāḥ (Brahmins)
• yajña (sacrifice)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid royal grandeur and public commotion, the wise recognize and honor genuine spiritual and intellectual excellence; reverence (pūjā) offered with humility (prāñjali) is a mark of dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

During King Janaka’s prosperous yajña, the assembled Brahmins approach the sage Aṣṭāvakra with folded hands and formally honor him, indicating his acknowledged stature among learned and pious people.