Shloka 23

Jarītā–Śārṅgā-saṃvāda: Ākhu-haraṇa and the Approach of Agni (आखुहरणं अग्न्यागमनश्च)

Devanagari script

तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य कदाचित्‌ कालपर्यये,इस प्रकार यज्ञपरायण राजाके मनमें किसी समय यह संकल्प उठा कि मैं सौ वर्षोतक चालू रहनेवाला एक सत्र प्रारम्भ करूँ; परंतु उन महामनाको वह यज्ञ आरम्य करनेके लिये ऋत्विज ही नहीं मिले

Transliteration

tasyaivaṁ vartamānasya kadācit kālaparyaye |

Translation

เมื่อพระราชาผู้มุ่งมั่นในยัญพิธีทรงดำเนินชีวิตเช่นนั้นอยู่ ครั้นถึงคราวผันแปรแห่งกาลครั้งหนึ่ง พระทัยก็เกิดปณิธานว่า “เราจักเริ่มสัตรยัญที่ดำเนินยาวนานครบหนึ่งร้อยปี”

Word by Word

तस्यof him

एवम्thus, in this manner

वर्तमानस्यwhile existing/continuing (in that state)

कदाचित्at some time, once

कालपर्ययेat a turn/change of time

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

a king (unnamed in the provided excerpt)

satra (hundred-year sacrificial session)

Ṛ

ṛtvij (officiating priests)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A noble resolve (to perform a great sacrifice) is not sufficient by itself; dharmic action requires proper qualifications, competent officiants, and adherence to correct procedure. Ethical intent must be matched by appropriate means.

What is happening in the narrative?

The narrator states that at a certain time the king, devoted to sacrifice, decides to begin a hundred-year satra. However, he is unable to find the necessary ṛtvij priests to initiate the rite, creating an obstacle to his plan.