Shloka 13

Śārṅgaka-stuti to Agni during the Khāṇḍava Conflagration (शार्ङ्गक-स्तुतिः / अग्नि-स्तुतिः)

Devanagari script

त॑ ते कथितवानस्मि पूर्वमेव नृपोत्तम | तच्छुत्वा वचन त्वग्नेर्बीभत्सुर्जातवेदसम्‌

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca | tat te kathitavān asmi pūrvam eva nṛpottama | tac chrutvā vacanaṃ tv agner bībhatsur jātavedasam |

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: «О лучший из царей, я уже рассказывал тебе об этом прежде. Услышав слова Агни, Бибхатсу (Арджуна) тогда обратился к Джатаведасу (богу Огня) речью, подобающей тому мгновению».

Word by Word

• तत्: that (thing)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Dative, Singular

• कथितवान्: having told / told
• कथितवान्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ्
• Form: क्तवतु (past active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Present, 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पूर्वम्: before / earlier
• पूर्वम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व

• एव: indeed / just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• नृप-उत्तम: O best of kings
• नृप-उत्तम: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + उत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• तत्: that (statement/thing)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive)

• वचनम्: speech / words
• वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• त्वक्: skin
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वक्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• अग्नेः: of Agni
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• बीभत्सुः: Arjuna (Bībhatsu)
• बीभत्सुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीभत्सु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जातवेदसम्: Jātavedas (Agni)
• जातवेदसम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जातवेदस्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Janamejaya
• Agni (Jātavedas)
• Arjuna (Bībhatsu)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights responsible action within a complex moral landscape: even when divine powers urge or oppose an act, the human agent (Arjuna) must respond with situational discernment (yathākāla) and deliberate speech, acknowledging competing claims and consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reminds King Janamejaya that he has already recounted the episode. After hearing Agni’s words/request, Arjuna (Bībhatsu) addresses Agni (Jātavedas), setting up the next part of the Khaṇḍava-forest narrative where Agni seeks assistance despite Indra’s resistance.