Shloka 47

ऋतुपर्णस्य विदर्भयात्रा-निश्चयः तथा बाहुकस्य हयपरिक्षा (Ṛtuparṇa’s resolve to go to Vidarbha and Bāhuka’s examination of horses)

Devanagari script

यदि वासौ समृद्धः स्याद्‌ यदि वाप्यधनो भवेत्‌ | यदि वाप्यसमर्थ: स्याज्ज्ञेयमस्य चिकीर्षितम्‌,उत्तर देनेवाला पुरुष धनवान्‌ हो या निर्धन, समर्थ हो या असमर्थ, वह क्या करना चाहता है, इस बातको जाननेका प्रयत्न कीजिये'

Transliteration

yadi vāsau samṛddhaḥ syād yadi vāpy adhano bhavet | yadi vāpy asamarthaḥ syāj jñeyam asya cikīrṣitam ||

Translation

Whether the man who comes to give an answer is prosperous or poor, capable or incapable—one should strive to discern what he truly intends to do. The worth of a reply is not measured by the speaker’s status, but by the purpose and resolve that lie behind his words.

Word by Word

यदिif

वासौa wealthy man/person

समृद्धःprosperous, rich

स्यात्may be / would be

यदिif

वाor

अपिeven, also

अधनःpoor, without wealth

भवेत्may become / would be

यदिif

वाor

अपिeven, also

असमर्थःincapable, powerless

स्यात्may be / would be

ज्ञेयम्to be known, should be ascertained

अस्यof him / his

चिकीर्षितम्intended act; what he wishes to do

Speaker

युदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

Sandhi Notes