Shloka 21

Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances

Devanagari script

गोमायुरुवाच सदृशं मृगराजैतत्‌ तव वाक्‍्यं मदन्तरे । यत्‌ सहायान्‌ मृगयसे धर्मार्थकुशलान्‌ शुचीन्‌,सियार बोला--मृगराज! आपने मेरे लिये जो बात कही है, वह सर्वथा आपके योग्य ही है तथा आप जो धर्म और अर्थसाधनमें कुशल एवं शुद्ध स्वभाववाले सहायकों (मन्त्रियों) की खोज कर रहे हैं, यह भी उचित ही है

Transliteration

gomāyur uvāca sadṛśaṃ mṛgarāja etat tava vākyaṃ mad-antare | yat sahāyān mṛgayase dharmārtha-kuśalān śucīn |

Translation

山犬は言った。「おお獣の王よ、我がことについて汝が語った言葉は、まことに汝にふさわしい。さらに、ダルマとアルタに通じ、行い清らかな伴侶（大臣）を求めるのも、まさしく正しいことだ。」

Word by Word

गोमायुःthe jackal

उवाचsaid

सदृशम्befitting, suitable

मृगराजO king of beasts (lion)

एतत्this

तवyour

वाक्यम्speech, statement

मत्-अन्तरेwith regard to me / in my case

यत्that (which)

सहायान्helpers, allies, ministers

मृगयसेyou seek, look for

धर्म-अर्थ-कुशलान्skilled in dharma and artha

शुचीन्pure, clean (in conduct)

Speaker

शार्टूल उवाच

Characters & Entities

ग

गोमायु (jackal)

म

मृगराज (lion)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s search for advisers should prioritize moral purity (śuci) and competence in both dharma (ethical duty) and artha (practical governance). Worthy counsel is presented as essential to righteous and effective rule.

What is happening in the narrative?

In an animal-fable style exchange, the jackal addresses the lion, affirming that the lion’s words are appropriate and praising the lion’s intention to seek capable and upright companions/ministers.