Shloka 103
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
शुन:सख (संन्यासी) ने कहा--यातुधानी! इन ऋषियोंने जिस प्रकार अपना नाम बताया है; उस तरह मैं नहीं बता सकता। तू मेरा नाम शुन:सख समझ ।।
śunaḥsakha (saṃnyāsī) uvāca— yātudhāni! ime ṛṣayaḥ yathā svanāma vyājahruḥ, tathāhaṃ na śaknomi vaktum. tvaṃ mama nāma śunaḥsakham iti manyasva. yātudhāny uvāca— nāmnā niruktam etat te vākyaṃ saṃdigdhayā girā; tasmāt punar idānīṃ tvaṃ brūhi yan nāma te, dvija.
Sinabi ni Śunaḥsakha, ang nagtalikod sa daigdig: “O Yātudhānī! Ipinahayag ng mga pantas na ito ang kanilang mga pangalan sa isang paraan; hindi ko maipapahayag ang akin sa gayon ding paraan. Ituring mong ‘Śunaḥsakha’ ang aking pangalan.” Sumagot si Yātudhānī: “Ang sinabi mo tungkol sa iyong pangalan ay binigkas sa salitang may pag-aalinlangan. Kaya, O brāhmaṇa, ipaliwanag mong muli—nang malinaw—kung ano ang tunay mong pangalan.”
शुनःसख उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights ethical concern for clarity and truth in speech: a name (and by extension one’s identity or intent) should not be conveyed through ambiguous words when the context demands straightforwardness.
A renunciant named Śunaḥsakha addresses a demoness, saying he cannot state his name in the same manner as the sages did and asks her to accept his name as ‘Śunaḥsakha.’ The demoness challenges him, saying his words are doubtful, and demands a clearer explanation of his name.