Shloka 26

Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances

Devanagari script

नयोक्ष्यति हि मे शीलं तव भृत्यै: पुरातनै: । ते त्वां विभेदयिष्यन्ति दुःशीलाश्न मदन्तरे,आपके पुराने सेवकोंके साथ मेरे शीलस्वभावका मेल नहीं खायेगा। वे दुष्ट स्वभावके जीव हैं। अतः मेरे निमित्त वे लोग आपके कान भरते रहेंगे

Transliteration

nayoṣyati hi me śīlaṁ tava bhṛtyaiḥ purātanaiḥ | te tvāṁ vibhedayiṣyanti duḥśīlāś ca mad-antare ||

Translation

Śārṭūla berkata: “Perangai dan tabiatku tidak akan serasi dengan para hamba tuan yang telah lama berkhidmat. Mereka berwatak rosak; kerana aku, mereka akan terus membisikkan kata-kata ke telingamu, menabur perpecahan dan menghasutmu terhadapku.”

Word by Word

नnot

योक्ष्यतिwill fit / will harmonize

हिindeed / for

मेof me / my

शीलम्conduct / disposition

तवof you / your

भृत्यैःwith servants

पुरातनैःold / former

तेthey

तुbut

त्वाम्you

विभेदयिष्यन्तिwill cause to be divided / will estrange

दुःशीलाःof bad conduct

मदन्तरेin my absence / behind my back

Speaker

शार्टूल उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śārṭūla

tava purātanāḥ bhṛtyāḥ (your old servants)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse warns that unethical attendants can undermine relationships through slander and faction-making. It highlights the moral danger of listening to divisive talk and the need for discernment in choosing advisers and household retainers.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śārṭūla cautions his interlocutor that the latter’s long-established servants will not accept Śārṭūla’s presence or temperament. He predicts they will attempt to alienate the master from him by whispering accusations and creating dissension.