Shloka 21

Nakula’s Declaration and the Uñchavṛtti Brāhmaṇa’s Superior Merit (Āśvamedhika Parva, Adhyāya 92)

Devanagari script

नेदं शक्‍यं वृथा कर्तु मम सत्र॑ कथंचन

Transliteration

nedaṁ śakyaṁ vṛthā kartuṁ mama satraṁ kathaṁcana

Translation

Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “Ang aking banal na pagtitipon ng paghahandog (satra) ay hindi maaaring, sa anumang paraan, gawing walang saysay o hayaang mauwi sa wala.”

Word by Word

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na

• idam: this
• idam: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: idam
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• śakyam: possible / feasible
• śakyam: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakya
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• vṛthā: in vain / uselessly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vṛthā

• kartum: to do / to make
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ
• Form: tumun (infinitive)

• mama: of me / my
• mama: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: asmad
• Form: genitive, singular

• satra: sacrificial session / rite (satra)
• satra: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: satra
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• kathaṃcana: in any way / by any means (at all)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kathaṃcana

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• satra (sacrificial session)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores steadfastness in dharma: once a sacred undertaking is begun, one should not let it become fruitless through negligence, distraction, or lack of resolve.

What is happening in the narrative?

Within the Ashvamedhika Parva’s frame narration, Vaiśampāyana asserts that his ongoing sacrificial session (satra) must not be allowed to fail, emphasizing the seriousness and continuity of the rite and the discourse connected with it.