Mahabharata — Adi Parva, Shloka 20

कल्माषपाद-शाप-कारणम्

Cause of Kalmāṣapāda’s Niyoga under a Curse

Devanagari script

यदिच्छसि महाभाग मत्त: प्रवदतां वर । तत्‌ ते दद्यामभिप्रेतं यद्यपि स्यात्‌ सुदुष्करम्‌

Transliteration

yadicchasi mahābhāga mattaḥ pravadatāṃ vara | tat te dadyām abhipretaṃ yadyapi syāt suduṣkaram ||

Translation

「幸いなる者よ、言葉の達者なる者のうち最勝よ。もし我に何かを望むなら告げよ。たとえ至難であろうとも、汝の所願を授けよう。」

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

• इच्छसि: you desire / you wish
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Lat (present indicative), 2, singular, Parasmaipada

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• मतः: from me
• मतः: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अहम्
• Form: ablative, singular

• प्रवदताम्: let (them) speak / of those who speak
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वद्
• Form: Lot (imperative/benedictive sense), 3, plural, Parasmaipada

• वर: O best (one)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: dative, singular

• दद्याम्: I would give / I shall give
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 1, singular, Parasmaipada

• अभिप्रेतम्: desired, intended
• अभिप्रेतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + प्र + इ (→ प्रेत) / अभिप्रेत
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• यद्यपि: even if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि + अपि

• स्यात्: it may be / were to be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3, singular, Parasmaipada

• सुदुष्करम्: very difficult
• सुदुष्करम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुदुष्कर
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

Speaker

(वसिष्ठ उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical ideal of steadfast generosity and keeping one’s word: a righteous person commits to fulfilling a request even when it is difficult, emphasizing integrity and responsibility in giving.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vasiṣṭha addresses an esteemed interlocutor and assures him that whatever boon is requested will be granted, underscoring Vasiṣṭha’s authority and his readiness to fulfill a difficult request.