Shloka 15

Adhyaya 24 — Kuvalayashva’s Refusal of Gifts and the Vision of Madalasa’s Maya

Sanskrit

नाग उवाच यदि रत्नसुवर्णादि मत्तोऽवाप्तुं न ते मनः ।

यदन्यन्मनसः प्रीत्यै तद्ब्रूहि त्वं ददाम्यहम् ॥

Transliteration

nāga uvāca yadi ratna-suvarṇādi matto 'vāptuṃ na te manaḥ |

yad anyan manasaḥ prītyai tad brūhi tvaṃ dadāmy aham ||

Translation

O Nāga disse: Se tua mente não deseja obter de mim joias, ouro e coisas semelhantes, então diz-me o que mais agradaria ao teu coração—eu o darei.

Word by Word

• nāgaḥ: the serpent
• nāgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conditional particle

• ratna-suvarṇa-ādi: jewels, gold, etc.
• ratna-suvarṇa-ādi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + suvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāhāra-dvandva (समाहार-द्वन्द्व) with ādi; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) (as a class/collection)

• mattaḥ: from me
• mattaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: First person pronoun (अस्मद्), Ablative (पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• avāptum: to obtain
• avāptum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√āp (धातु)
• Form: Tumun-infinitive (तुमुन्), ‘to obtain’

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), negation particle

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• manaḥ: mind; desire
• manaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yat: whatever
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (यद्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• anyat: other (thing)
• anyat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); with yat

• manasaḥ: of (your) mind
• manasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• prītyai: for pleasure/satisfaction
• prītyai: Sampradāna / Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• brūhi: tell (me)
• brūhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, Imperative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Madhyama-puruṣa (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• dadāmi: I give
• dadāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्, Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

• Nāga speaking to the prince

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Boon-giving
• Non-attachment
• Right desire (kāma-niyama)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse distinguishes between material and higher aims: refusal of gold/jewels hints at vairāgya or at least disciplined desire. The benefactor invites the seeker to articulate a worthy, heart-aligned request.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Narrative ethics (ākhyāna) focused on conduct and intention; not pañcalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

A ‘Nāga’ as guardian of subterranean treasure symbolizes latent siddhis/resources. The teaching: if one does not chase glittering externals, subtler fulfillments (dharma-appropriate boons) become accessible.