Shloka 21

उत्तङ्कोपाख्यानम् — Maṇi-Kuṇḍala Retrieval and Entry into Nāgaloka

Chapter 57

Devanagari script

एवमेतद्‌ वद ब्रह्म॒न्‌ नानृतं वदसे5नघ । अभिशन्ञानं तु किंचित्‌ त्वं समानयितुमरहसि

Transliteration

evam etad vada brahman nānṛtaṁ vadasy anagha | abhiśaṅjñānaṁ tu kiñcit tvaṁ samānayitum arhasi |

Translation

ତେଣୁ ଏମିତି ହେଉ, ହେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ—ଠିକ୍ ସେହିପରି କହ; ହେ ନିର୍ଦୋଷ, ତୁମେ ମିଥ୍ୟା କହୁନାହଁ। କିନ୍ତୁ ତୁମେ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ନିଜ ପାଖରୁ ତାଙ୍କ ସନ୍ଦେଶ ନେଇ ଆସିଛ, ତେଣୁ ତୁମେ ସତ୍ୟରେ ତାଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତିନିଧି ବୋଲି ନିଶ୍ଚିତ କରିବାକୁ କିଛି ଅଭିଜ୍ଞାନ—କିଛି ପ୍ରମାଣ—ଆଣିବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• एतत्: this (statement/thing)
• एतत्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• वद: say, speak
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ब्रह्मन्: O brahmin
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अनृतम्: falsehood, untruth
• अनृतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वदसे: you speak
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद्
• Form: Present, Second, Singular, Atmanepada

• अनघ: O sinless one
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनघ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अभिशङ्ञानम्: a token/sign (of recognition), proof
• अभिशङ्ञानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिशङ्ञान
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तु: but, however
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• किञ्चित्: something, a little
• किञ्चित्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किञ्चित्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• समानयितुम्: to bring, to produce
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-नी
• Form: Tumun (infinitive)

• अर्हसि: you ought, you are fit
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• brāhmaṇa (messenger)
• mahārāja (the king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when a speaker is reputed truthful, dharma in royal and diplomatic matters requires verification: a messenger should provide a recognizable token to authenticate the message and prevent deception.

What is happening in the narrative?

A listener addresses a brāhmaṇa messenger respectfully, affirming his truthfulness, but requests an identifying sign or proof that he has indeed come from the king with the king’s message.