Shloka 39

Adhyaya 1 — Jaimini’s Questions on the Mahabharata and the Origin of the Wise Birds

Sanskrit

शक्रच्छन्दानुयाताभिः पृष्टस्ताभिः सनारदः ।

प्रोवाच यत् तदा वाक्यं जैमिने तन्निबोध मे ॥

Transliteration

śakracchandānuyātābhiḥ pṛṣṭastābhiḥ sanāradaḥ /

provāca yat tadā vākyaṃ jaimine tannibodha me //

Translation

Interrogado por aqueles que vinham acompanhados de Śakra e dos metros védicos, ele—junto com Nārada—proferiu então aquelas palavras. Ó Jaimini, ouve de mim o que foi dito naquele tempo.

Word by Word

• शक्रच्छन्द-अनुयाताभिः: by those who followed Indra’s wish
• शक्रच्छन्द-अनुयाताभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्र + छन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + अनु + या (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle) 'अनुयात' = followed; तत्पुरुष-समास: 'शक्रस्य छन्दः' (Indra's will) + 'अनुयात' (followed)

• पृष्टः: (he) having been asked
• पृष्टः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; of implied 'was')
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (having been asked)

• ताभिः: by them
• ताभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• स-नारदः: Nārada (along with others/with Nārada)
• स-नारदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; उपसर्गसदृश 'स' = सह (with) (indeclinable prefix-like usage)

• प्रोवाच: said forth
• प्रोवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• यत्: what (that which)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• वाक्यम्: speech, statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• जैमिने: to Jaimini
• जैमिने: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जैमिनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• निबोध: understand, learn
• निबोध: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• मे: of me / my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular) (enclitic)

Speakers

• Narrator addressing Jaimini; reported speech to follow (involving Nārada; others implied by context)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Indra (Śakra)

Key Themes

• Frame narrative
• Transmission of Purāṇic teaching
• Authority of sacred speech (chandas)
• Guru–śiṣya listening (nibodha)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse foregrounds śravaṇa (attentive listening) and faithful transmission: knowledge is conveyed through an authorized chain, and the listener’s readiness (nibodha) is itself a dharmic discipline.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse functions as an upodghāta (introductory frame) rather than a direct pancalakṣaṇa element. It prepares for Purāṇic narration that may later include sarga/pratisarga, vaṃśa, manvantara, and vaṃśānucarita.

What is the esoteric significance?

By invoking Śakra and chandas, the text subtly sacralizes the coming discourse: chandas symbolizes ordered vibration and revealed speech, implying that the narrative is not mere story but a patterned, mantra-like vehicle of meaning guarded by divine and sage authority.