Shloka 17

Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances

Devanagari script

तं शुचिं पण्डितं मत्वा शार्दूल: ख्यातविक्रम: । कृत्वा55त्मसदृशीं पूजां साचिव्येडवरयत्‌ स्वयम्‌,सियारके इस पवित्र आचार-विचारकी चर्चा चारों ओर फैल जानेके कारण एक प्रख्यातपराक्रमी व्याप्रने उसे विद्वान्‌ और विशुद्ध स्वभावका मानकर उसके निकट पदार्पण किया और उसकी अपने अनुरूप पूजा करके स्वयं ही मन्त्री बनानेके लिये उसका वरण किया

Transliteration

taṁ śuciṁ paṇḍitaṁ matvā śārdūlaḥ khyātavikramaḥ | kṛtvātmasadṛśīṁ pūjāṁ sācivye ’dvarayat svayam ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు పలికెను—అతడు శుచిశీలుడూ పండితుడూ అని భావించి, పరాక్రమంలో ప్రసిద్ధుడైన వ్యాఘ్రసమాన పురుషుడు అతని వద్దకు వచ్చెను. తన స్థాయికి తగిన గౌరవంతో అతనిని సత్కరించి, తానే స్వయంగా అతనిని మంత్రిపదానికి వరిచెను.

Word by Word

तम्him

शुचिम्pure

पण्डितम्a learned man

मत्वाhaving considered/knowing

शार्दूलःŚārdūla (a person; lit. tiger)

ख्यातविक्रमःof renowned prowess

कृत्वाhaving done

आत्मसदृशीम्befitting himself / like himself

पूजाम्honour, worship

साचिव्येin/for the office of ministership

अवरयत्chose/selected

स्वयम्himself

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

a valorous person described as śārdūla (tiger-like)

the learned pure man (paṇḍita, śuci)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler (or powerful leader) should recognize and elevate people of proven purity of conduct (śuci) and learning (paṇḍita) to positions of counsel; ethical character and wisdom are presented as primary qualifications for ministerial responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

A renowned, powerful figure hears of the man’s virtuous reputation, approaches him, honors him appropriately, and then personally appoints him as a minister—showing deliberate selection based on merit and character.