Shloka 23

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

Sinabi ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: Habang siya’y patuloy na namumuhay nang gayon, sa isang pag-ikot ng panahon ay sumibol sa isip ng hari ang panata: “Magsisimula ako ng isang satra na tatagal nang buong isang daang taon.” Ngunit sa kabila ng kanyang sigasig sa paghahandog, hindi niya matagpuan ang mga kinakailangang ṛtvij upang pasimulan ang dakilang ritwal na iyon.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• एवम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• वर्तमानस्य: while existing/continuing (in that state)
• वर्तमानस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्तमान
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• कदाचित्: at some time, once
• कदाचित्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित्

• कालपर्यये: at a turn/change of time
• कालपर्यये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल-पर्यय
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• a king (unnamed in the provided excerpt)
• satra (hundred-year sacrificial session)
• ṛtvij (officiating priests)

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.