Shloka 13

Adhyāya 122 — Śruta-vṛtta-yukta Brāhmaṇa and the Ethics of Dāna

Maitreya–Vyāsa Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

वहन्ति मामतिबला: कुञ्जरा हेममालिन: । स्यन्दनेषु च काम्बोजा युक्ता: परमवाजिन:

Transliteration

vahanti mām atibalāḥ kuñjarā hemamālinaḥ | syandaneṣu ca kāmbojā yuktāḥ paramavājinaḥ ||

Translation

سونے کے ہاروں سے آراستہ نہایت طاقتور ہاتھی مجھے اٹھائے پھرتے ہیں؛ اور میرے رتھوں میں اعلیٰ نسل کے نہایت تیز رفتار کامبوج گھوڑے جتے رہتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• वहन्ति: carry, bear
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह्
• Form: Lat (Present), 3, Plural, Parasmaipada

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Common, Accusative, Singular

• अतिबलाः: very strong
• अतिबलाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कुञ्जराः: elephants
• कुञ्जराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुञ्जर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• हेममालिनः: wearing garlands of gold
• हेममालिनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेममालिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• स्यन्दनेषु: in chariots
• स्यन्दनेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्यन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• काम्बोजाः: Kambojas (Kamboja horses/men)
• काम्बोजाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम्बोज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• युक्ताः: yoked, harnessed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज्
• Form: Past Passive Participle (kta), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• परमवाजिनः: having excellent speed / best steeds
• परमवाजिनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमवाजिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

कीट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• kīṭa (the insect, speaker)
• kuñjara (elephants)
• hema-mālā (golden garlands)
• syandana (chariot)
• kāmboja (Kāmboja horses/region)
• vājī (horse)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how wealth, power, and prestigious possessions (elephants, fine horses, chariots) can inflate ego and obscure discernment; ethically, it invites reflection on non-attachment and humility, since such splendor is not a reliable measure of virtue or lasting security.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker, identified as ‘the insect’ (kīṭa), boasts of being carried by powerful, gold-adorned elephants and driven in chariots drawn by excellent Kāmboja horses—depicting a scene of royal magnificence used to characterize prideful self-display.