Shloka 56

Nāgendra–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda: Praśna-vidhi and Dharmic Approach on the Gomatī Riverbank

Devanagari script

ततस्तावसुरौ कृत्वा वेदान्‌ू समयबन्धनान्‌

Transliteration

tatastāv asurau kṛtvā vedān samayabandhanān

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം ആ രണ്ടു അസുരന്മാർ വേദങ്ങളെ ‘സമയബന്ധനം’—അഥവാ പ്രതിജ്ഞാബന്ധം—ആയി സ്ഥാപിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, nominative, dual

• असुरौ: the two Asuras
• असुरौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर
• Form: Masculine, nominative, dual

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), indeclinable; from √कृ

• वेदान्: the Vedas
• वेदान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद
• Form: Masculine, accusative, plural

• समयबन्धनान्: bound by agreement/compact; (as) covenant-bound (ones)
• समयबन्धनान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: समयबन्धन
• Form: Masculine, accusative, plural

Speaker

वैशग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Asuras
• Vedas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames the Vedas as more than scripture: they function as binding norms—an ethical contract (samaya-bandhana) that restrains behavior and anchors duty in agreed sacred authority.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaishampayana describes a moment where two Asuras institute or adopt the Vedas as the binding terms of an agreement, implying a formalization of rules and obligations under Vedic authority.