Shloka 16

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मण उवाच यदि नेच्छसि मत्तस्त्वं वरं भद्गे शुचिस्मिते । इमं मन्त्र गृहाण त्वमाह्वानाय दिवौकसाम्‌,ब्राह्मणने कहा--भद्रे! पवित्र मुसकानवाली पृथे! यदि तुम मुझसे वर नहीं लेना चाहती हो तो देवताओंका आवाहन करनेके लिये यह एक मन्त्र ही ग्रहण कर लो

Transliteration

brāhmaṇa uvāca yadi necchasi mattas tvaṁ varaṁ bhadre śucismite | imaṁ mantraṁ gṛhāṇa tvam āhvānāya divaukasām ||

Translation

バラモンは言った。「吉祥なる淑女よ、清らかな微笑みをたたえる者よ。もし私から恩寵を受けることを望まぬのなら、せめてこの真言（マントラ）を受け取るがよい。これによって天界の神々を招き、呼び出すことができる。」

Word by Word

• {'brāhmaṇaḥ': 'a Brahmin

• a priestly man', 'uvāca': 'said

• spoke', 'yadi': 'if', 'na icchasi (necchasi)': 'you do not wish/desire', 'mattaḥ': 'from me', 'tvam': 'you', 'varam': 'a boon

• choice blessing', 'bhadre': 'O auspicious one

• O noble lady', 'śuci-smite': 'one with a pure/bright smile', 'imam': 'this', 'mantram': 'mantra

• sacred formula', 'gṛhāṇa': 'take

• accept', 'āhvānāya': 'for invocation

• for calling (upon)', 'divaukasām': 'of the dwellers in heaven

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa (the speaker)
• Bhadre/Śucismitā (addressed woman)
• Mantra (object offered)
• Divaukas (the gods)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When personal boons are declined, the text elevates a dharmic alternative: a mantra used for rightful invocation. The emphasis is on disciplined, sanctioned means (sacred speech and ritual propriety) rather than private gain.

What is happening in the narrative?

A Brahmin offers a boon to a woman addressed as ‘bhadre’ and ‘śucismite.’ When she does not wish to take a boon, he instead gives her a mantra specifically meant to invoke the gods (divaukas).