Shloka 16

ऋभु–निदाघ-संवादः—अद्वैत-उपदेशः, समता, वासुदेव-स्वरूप-एकत्वम्

Devanagari script

तं भुक्तवन्तम् इच्छातो मिष्टम् अन्नं महामुनिम् निदाघः प्राह भूपाल प्रश्रयावनतः स्थितः

Transliteration

taṃ bhuktavantam icchāto miṣṭam annaṃ mahāmunim nidāghaḥ prāha bhūpāla praśrayāvanataḥ sthitaḥ

Translation

大聖仙が望むままに甘き食を終えると、ニダーガは王の前に恭しく身をかがめて立ち、こう語りかけた。「おお、大地の統べる者よ……」。

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• भुक्तवन्तम्: who had eaten
• भुक्तवन्तम्: Karma (Object-apposition/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु) + क्तवतु (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्तरि कृदन्त (past active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• इच्छातः: as he wished / at will
• इच्छातः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (as cause: ‘from desire/at will’)

• मिष्टम्: sweet
• मिष्टम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (of अन्नम्)

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• महामुनिम्: the great sage
• महामुनिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (great sage)

• निदाघः: Nidāgha
• निदाघः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निदाघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह्/अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भूपाल: O king
• भूपाल: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• प्रश्रय-अवनतः: humbly bowed
• प्रश्रय-अवनतः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रश्रय (प्रातिपदिक) + अवनत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (bowed with humility)

• स्थितः: standing
• स्थितः: Kriya (Predicate participle/क्रियाविशेष)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्तरि कृदन्त (past active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; the reported speech is by Nidāgha to King Ṛbhu)

Characters & Entities

• Nidāgha
• King Ṛbhu (Bhūpāla)
• Sage (Mahāmuni)

FAQs

What is the significance of humility (praśraya) in this Vishnu Purana passage?

The verse highlights that true instruction is approached through reverence and self-effacement; Nidāgha’s bowed posture signals that spiritual insight is grounded in humility rather than status.

How does Sage Parāśara present teaching through dialogue in this chapter?

Parāśara frames the lesson as a lived encounter: after hospitality and proper conduct, Nidāgha begins instruction, showing that dharma and wisdom unfold naturally within respectful social and spiritual exchange.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this immediate context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the line, the Purana’s ethic is Vishnu-centered: rightful sovereignty and conduct (of king and sage alike) are meaningful because they align with the sustaining cosmic order upheld by the Supreme Reality.