Shloka 24

Devanagari script

प्राउजलि: प्रणतो भूत्वा नमस्कृत्य च वज्रञभृत्‌ । प्राह वाक्‍्यं ततस्तत्त्वं यतस्तस्य भयं भवेत्‌

Transliteration

prāñjaliḥ praṇato bhūtvā namaskṛtya ca vajrabhṛt | prāha vākyam tatas tattvaṁ yatas tasya bhayaṁ bhavet ||

Translation

With palms joined in reverence, he bowed low and offered salutations. Then Vajra-bhṛt (Indra) spoke words of sober truth—words meant to address the very point from which fear could arise for him. The scene underscores a moral dynamic: humility and proper respect invite candid, corrective counsel that removes anxiety at its root.

Word by Word

प्राञ्जलिःwith joined palms

प्रणतःbowed down

भूत्वाhaving become

नमस्कृत्यhaving saluted

चand

वज्रभृत्the wielder of the thunderbolt (Indra)

प्राहsaid/spoke

वाक्यम्a speech/statement

ततःthen/thereupon

तत्त्वम्the truth/reality

यतःfrom which/whereby

तस्यof him/of that

भयम्fear

भवेत्might arise/be

Speaker

लोगश उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vajrabhṛt (Indra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that humility and reverent conduct (joined palms, bowing, salutation) create the conditions for receiving truthful, corrective guidance. Such truth aims at the root-cause of fear—addressing the real issue rather than merely soothing symptoms.

What is happening in the narrative?

A respectful petitioner approaches with folded hands and bows; after receiving this homage, Indra (Vajrabhṛt) responds. Indra’s reply is described as 'tattva'—a statement of essential truth—spoken specifically with reference to whatever could become a source of fear for the other party.