Shloka 132

Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्

Devanagari script

शुन:सख उवाच अध्वर्यवे दुहितरं वा ददातु च्छन्दोगे वा चरितब्रह्यचर्ये आशरथर्वणं वेदमधीत्य विप्र: स्‍्नायीत वा यो हरते बिसानि

Transliteration

Śunaḥsakha uvāca—adhvaryave duhitaraṃ vā dadātu chāndoge vā carita-brahmacarye; āśaratharvaṇaṃ vedam adhītya vipraḥ snāyīta vā yo harate bisāni.

Translation

ଶୁନଃସଖ କହିଲେ—ଯେ ମୃଣାଳ (ପଦ୍ମନାଳ) ଚୋରି କରିଛି, ସେ ପ୍ରାୟଶ୍ଚିତ୍ତରୂପେ ଯଜୁର୍ବେଦୀ ଅଧ୍ୱର୍ୟୁଙ୍କୁ କିମ୍ବା ବ୍ରହ୍ମଚର୍ୟବ୍ରତ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ କରିଥିବା ସାମବେଦୀ ଛାନ୍ଦୋଗ ପଣ୍ଡିତଙ୍କୁ କନ୍ୟାଦାନ କରୁ; ନଚେତ୍ ଅଥର୍ବବେଦ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଅଧ୍ୟୟନ କରି ସେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ ଶୀଘ୍ର ସ୍ନାତକ-ସ୍ନାନ କରୁ।

Word by Word

• शुनःसखः: Śunaḥsakha (proper name)
• शुनःसखः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुनःसख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular

• अध्वर्यवे: to an adhvaryu priest (Yajurvedic priest)
• अध्वर्यवे: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वर्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• दुहितरम्: a daughter
• दुहितरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुहितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• ददातु: let him give
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Imperative, Third, Singular

• छन्दोगे: in/for a Chāndoga (Sāmavedic priest/singer)
• छन्दोगे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• चरितब्रह्मचर्ये: in/for one who has completed brahmacarya
• चरितब्रह्मचर्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चरितब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• अथर्वणम्: the Atharvan (Atharvaveda)
• अथर्वणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अथर्वण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वेदम्: Veda
• वेदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अधीत्य: having studied
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधि-इ
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive)

• विप्रः: a brahmin
• विप्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्नायीत: should bathe (become a स्नातक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना
• Form: Optative, Third, Singular

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हरते: steals/takes away
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ
• Form: Present, Third, Singular

• बिसानि: lotus-stalk fibers (bisa)
• बिसानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

शुन:सख उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śunaḥsakha
• Adhvaryu (Yajurvedic priest)
• Chāndoga (Sāmavedic priest)
• Atharvaveda
• bisāni (lotus-stalks/mṛṇāla)
• snātaka (graduate after bath)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even minor theft disrupts dharma and requires restitution. The text recommends expiation that strengthens sacred learning and social responsibility—supporting qualified Vedic priests through a major gift (kanyādāna) or completing Vedic study and the snātaka rite, thereby restoring purity and right conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śunaḥsakha is prescribing a prāyaścitta (atonement) for someone who has stolen lotus-stalks. He outlines alternative remedies: give one’s daughter in marriage to a properly trained Yajurvedic or Sāmavedic priest who has completed brahmacarya, or complete Atharvavedic study and take the snātaka bath—formalizing a return to disciplined, dharmic life.