Shloka 16

Satya-lakṣaṇa (The Characteristics and Forms of Truth) | सत्यलक्षणम्

Devanagari script

चन्दनै: स्यन्दनै: शालै: सरलैदेवदारुभि: । वेतसैर्धन्वनैश्लापि ये चान्ये बलवत्तरा:

Transliteration

candanais syandanaiḥ śālaiḥ saralaiḥ devadārubhiḥ | vetasair dhanvanaiś cāpi ye cānye balavattarāḥ, tasmāt taṁ vai namasyanti śvasanaṁ tarusattamāḥ |

Translation

ନାରଦ କହିଲେ—ଚନ୍ଦନ, ସ୍ୟନ୍ଦନ (ତିନିଶ), ଶାଳ, ସରଳ, ଦେବଦାରୁ, ବେତସ, ଧନ୍ୱନ ଓ ଅନ୍ୟ ଯେଉଁମାନେ ଆଉ ଅଧିକ ବଳବାନ ବୃକ୍ଷ—ସେମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ବାୟୁ ଉପରେ ଦୋଷ ଦେଉନାହାନ୍ତି। ନିଜ ବଳ ଓ ବାୟୁଦେବଙ୍କ ପ୍ରଭାବ ଭଲଭାବେ ଜାଣି, ସେଇ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ବୃକ୍ଷମାନେ ବାୟୁର ଚଳିତ ଶ୍ୱାସ-ପ୍ରବାହ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ମସ୍ତକ ନମାନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• चन्दनैः: by/with sandalwood trees
• चन्दनैः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• स्यन्दनैः: by/with syandana (tiniśa) trees
• स्यन्दनैः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्यन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शालैः: by/with śāla trees
• शालैः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सरलैः: by/with pine trees
• सरलैः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• देवदारुभिः: by/with deodars (devadāru trees)
• देवदारुभिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवदारु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वेतसैः: by/with vetasa (willow/reed) trees
• वेतसैः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेतस
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• धन्वनैः: by/with dhanvana trees
• धन्वनैः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्वन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• ये: who/which
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अन्ये: other
• अन्ये: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• बलवत्तराः: stronger/very strong
• बलवत्तराः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that reason
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (तद्)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वै: indeed/surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• नमस्यन्ति: bow to / pay homage
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (नमस्यति)
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• श्वसनम्: the Wind (Vāyu), the breather
• श्वसनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वसन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तरुसत्तमाः: the best of trees
• तरुसत्तमाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरु-सत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Vāyu (Wind-god, implied by śvasanam)
• candana (sandalwood tree)
• syandana/tiniśa (tree)
• śāla (tree)
• sarala (tree)
• devadāru (deodar cedar)
• vetasa (cane/reed tree)
• dhanvana (tree)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even the strongest should recognize a truly superior force and respond with humility rather than blame. The verse uses great trees as examples: knowing their own limits and the Wind’s might, they ‘bow’—teaching restraint, realism, and respectful conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada illustrates a moral point through a nature-based analogy: he lists powerful trees and says that they do not accuse the Wind; instead, they acknowledge its power and submit. The image supports an admonition against foolishly faulting a stronger agent and encourages wise deference.