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Shloka 4

अष्टावक्र-प्रवेशः तथा ब्रह्मोद्य-प्रारम्भः

Aṣṭāvakra’s Entry and the Opening of the Brahmodya

विदेहराजस्य महीपतेस्तौ विप्रावुभी मातुलभागिनेयौ । प्रविश्य यज्ञायतनं विवादे बर्न्दि निजग्राहतुरप्रमेयौ,एक समय वे दोनों मामा-भानजे विदेहराजके यज्ञमण्डपमें गये। दोनों ही ब्राह्मण अनुपम विद्दान्‌ थे। वहाँ शास्त्रार्थ होनेपर उन दोनोंने अपने (विपक्षी) बन्दीको जीत लिया

videharājasya mahīpates tau viprāv ubhau mātulabhāgineyau | praviśya yajñāyatanaṃ vivāde bandīṃ nijagrāhatur aprameyau ||

ローマシャは言った。「ある時、その二人のバラモン—叔父と甥—はヴィデーハ王の祭祀殿に入った。二人はともに比類なき学識を備えていた。そこで論争が起こるや、彼らは知の力によって敵手バンディン(Bandin)を打ち負かし、屈服させた。これは、聖典の真の熟達が力ずくではなく、節度ある論理によって証されることを示すのである。」

विदेहराजस्यof the king of Videha
विदेहराजस्य:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootविदेहराज
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
महीपतेःof the earth-lord (king)
महीपतेः:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootमहीपति
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
तौthose two
तौ:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
विप्रौtwo brahmins
विप्रौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootविप्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
उभीboth
उभी:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootउभ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
मातुलmaternal uncle
मातुल:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमातुल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
भागिनेयौtwo nephews (sister’s sons)
भागिनेयौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभागिनेय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
प्रविश्यhaving entered
प्रविश्य:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-विश्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)
यज्ञायतनम्the sacrificial hall/ground
यज्ञायतनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootयज्ञायतन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
विवादेin debate/disputation
विवादे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootविवाद
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
बन्दिनम्the bard/opponent (Bandin)
बन्दिनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootबन्दिन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
निजग्राहतुःthey seized/overcame
निजग्राहतुः:
TypeVerb
Rootनि-ग्रह्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Dual, Parasmaipada
अप्रमेयौthe two incomparable/immeasurable (in prowess/learning)
अप्रमेयौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअप्रमेय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual

लोगमश उवाच

L
Lomasha
V
Videharaja (King of Videha)
V
Videha
Y
yajñāyatana (sacrificial hall)
T
two Brahmins (maternal uncle and nephew)
B
Bandin

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights that true authority is earned through disciplined learning and reasoned debate; intellectual and ethical superiority is demonstrated by mastery of śāstra and restraint, not by physical coercion.

Lomasha recounts how two exceptionally learned Brahmins—an uncle and his nephew—enter the Videha king’s sacrificial hall and, in a formal disputation, defeat and capture their opponent Bandin.