Shloka 123

आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः

Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca

Devanagari script

उन्माथमप्यथादाय चाण्डालो वीक्ष्य सर्वश:,भरतश्रेष्ठ] चाण्डालने उस जालको लेकर उसे सब ओरसे उलट-पलटकर देखा और निराश होकर क्षणभरमें उस स्थानसे हट गया और अन्तमें अपने घरको चला गया

Transliteration

unmātham apy athādāya cāṇḍālo vīkṣya sarvaśaḥ

Translation

Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Kinuha rin ng Caṇḍāla ang kasangkapang iyon at sinuri mula sa lahat ng panig. Nang makita niyang wala itong pakinabang ni pag-asa, umalis siya roon pagdaka at sa huli’y umuwi sa kanyang tahanan—ipinakikita kung paanong ang pagnanasa’y gumuho tungo sa pagkadismaya kapag ang tao’y naghahangad ng pakinabang na hindi nararapat sa kanya.”

Word by Word

• उन्माथम्: the churning-stick / stirring-rod
• उन्माथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उन्माथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अपि: also, even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• आदाय: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• चाण्डालः: the caṇḍāla (outcaste man)
• चाण्डालः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाण्डाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वीक्ष्य: having looked at, having examined
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• सर्वशः: in every way, on all sides
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Caṇḍāla
• unmātha (object/implement)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the futility of grasping for benefit where none is rightful or available: thorough scrutiny ends in disillusionment, and the seeker departs empty-handed—an ethical prompt toward restraint and contentment.

What is happening in the narrative?

A Caṇḍāla picks up an implement (unmātha) and inspects it from all sides; failing to find any value or purpose, he leaves the place and returns home.