Shloka 21

Devanagari script

न स्वल्पमपि पुत्रस्ते व्यलीकं॑ कृतवान्‌ नृप । पितरीव सुविदश्वस्तास्तस्मिन्नपि नराधिपे

Transliteration

na svalpam api putras te vyalīkaṃ kṛtavān nṛpa | pitarīva suvidaśvāstās tasminn api narādhipe ||

Translation

ഹേ നൃപനേ! നിങ്ങളുടെ പുത്രൻ അല്പമെങ്കിലും വഞ്ചന ചെയ്തിട്ടില്ല. ആ നരാധിപനിൽ ജനങ്ങൾ പിതാവിൽ വെക്കുന്നപോലെ വിശ്വാസം വെച്ചു—നിശ്ചിന്തരായി, സംശയമില്ലാതെ.

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• स्वल्पम्: a little (thing)
• स्वल्पम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• व्यलीकम्: deceit/falsehood
• व्यलीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यलीक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कृतवान्: has done/did
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्तवतुँ, Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Parasmaipada (active sense)

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पितरि: in/with regard to (his) father
• पितरि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• इव: like/as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• सुविदश्वस्ताः: well-assured/fully confident
• सुविदश्वस्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुविदश्वस्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तस्मिन्: in him/with regard to him
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• नराधिपे: in the lord of men (king)
• नराधिपे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नराधिप
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• nṛpa (the king addressed)
• putra (the king’s son)
• narādhipa (the lord of men/king referred to)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse upholds ethical kingship and personal integrity: even minor deceit (vyalīka) erodes dharma, whereas unwavering truthfulness makes a ruler (or leader) worthy of filial trust—trusted like a father.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana addresses a king and praises the king’s son, stating that he never practiced even slight deception; people felt secure and confident in him, trusting him as they would a fatherly protector.