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

ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ പറഞ്ഞു—“ഭദ്രേ, ശുചിസ്മിതേ! നീ എന്നിൽ നിന്ന് വരം സ്വീകരിക്കാൻ ഇച്ഛിക്കാത്തപക്ഷം, ദേവന്മാരെ ആഹ്വാനം ചെയ്യുന്നതിനായി ഈ മന്ത്രം എങ്കിലും സ്വീകരിക്കൂ.”

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).