Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

अथवाभ्यर्थनामिन्द्रो न करिष्यति कामत:

Transliteration

athavābhyarthanām indro na kariṣyati kāmataḥ

Translation

Kung hindi, hindi ipagkakaloob ni Indra ang hinihinging biyaya dahil lamang sa sariling kapritso. Ipinahihiwatig ng pahayag na ito na kahit ang isang makapangyarihang diyos ay hindi inilalarawang kumikilos nang pabagu-bago; ang mga pakiusap ay tinitimbang ayon sa nararapat at sa kaayusang moral (dharma), hindi tinutupad dahil lang sa pagnanasa ng tao.

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा

• अभ्यर्थना: request, entreaty
• अभ्यर्थना: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्यर्थना
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• करिष्यति: will do, will make
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कामतः: at will; as desired; voluntarily
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कामतस्

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Indra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power—human or divine—should not be exercised merely according to personal desire. Even Indra is framed as bound by a higher standard of propriety (dharma), so a request is not automatically fulfilled just because it is asked.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana remarks that a petition made to Indra will not necessarily be granted simply on the basis of wish; the line functions as a caution that outcomes depend on legitimacy and right order, not on arbitrary favor.