Shloka 24

उत्तङ्कोपाख्यानम् — Maṇi-Kuṇḍala Retrieval and Entry into Nāgaloka

Chapter 57

Devanagari script

छिद्रेष्वेतेष्विमे नित्यं ह्वियेते द्विजसत्तम । देवराक्षसनागानामप्रमत्तेन धार्यते,द्विजश्रेष्ठ! इन छिठ्रोंमें इन दोनों कुण्डलोंके खो जानेका भय सदा बना रहता है। जो देवता, राक्षत और नागोंकी ओरसे सावधान होता है, वही इन्हें धारण कर सकता है

Transliteration

chidreṣv eteṣv ime nityaṁ hvīyete dvijasattama | devarākṣasanāgānām apramattena dhāryate, dvijaśreṣṭha ||

Translation

ഹേ ദ്വിജശ്രേഷ്ഠാ, ഈ വിടവുകളാൽ ഈ കുണ്ഡലങ്ങൾ എപ്പോഴും നഷ്ടപ്പെടുമെന്ന ഭയം നിലനിൽക്കുന്നു. ദേവന്മാർ, രാക്ഷസന്മാർ, നാഗങ്ങൾ എന്നിവരുടെ കുതന്ത്രങ്ങളെക്കുറിച്ച് അപ്രമത്തനായി ജാഗ്രത പുലർത്തുന്നവനേ ഇവ ധരിക്കാനാകൂ.

Word by Word

छिद्रेषुin the holes/openings

एतेषुin these

इमेthese two

नित्यम्always

ह्वियेतेare called/invoked (i.e., are liable to be summoned/attracted)

द्विजसत्तमO best of the twice-born

देवof the gods

राक्षसof the demons

नागानाम्of the nāgas/serpents

अप्रमत्तेनby one who is vigilant/unheedless (i.e., careful)

धार्यतेis worn/borne

द्विजश्रेष्ठO best of the twice-born

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

dvija (brāhmaṇa addressee)

devas

rākṣasas

nāgas

kuṇḍala (ear-ornaments; implied by context)

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?

The verse teaches that what is precious—whether an object, a duty, or a trust—cannot be preserved by carelessness. Constant alertness (apramāda) is required, because loss can come through many agencies, including unseen or unexpected forces.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana explains to a brāhmaṇa addressee that certain valuable ear-ornaments are perpetually at risk of being lost due to the very openings/conditions by which they are worn, and that only a vigilant person can keep and wear them safely, guarding against gods, rākṣasas, and nāgas.