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Shloka 21

Aṣṭāvakra’s Visit to Kubera: Hospitality, Temptation, and the Ethics of Restraint (अष्टावक्र-वैश्रवणोपाख्यानम्)

वर्तमाने<ब्रवीद्‌ वाक्‍्यं साम्नि ह्युच्चारिते मया । रथन्तरे द्विजश्रेष्ठ न सम्यगिति वर्तते

vartamāne 'bravīd vākyam sāmni hy uccārite mayā | rathantare dvijaśreṣṭha na samyag iti vartate ||

وَیشَمپایَن نے کہا—جب میں سَامَن کا گان کر رہا تھا اور میرے منہ سے اس کا اُچار ہو چکا، تب اُس نے یہ کہا: “اے دِوِج-شریشٹھ! رَتھَنتَر سَامَن کا پاٹھ درست طور پر نہیں چل رہا۔”

वर्तमानेwhile (it was) going on / in the ongoing (rite)
वर्तमाने:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootवर्तमान (वृत्त-प्रत्ययान्त, √वृत्)
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
अब्रवीत्said
अब्रवीत्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Root√ब्रू
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular
वाक्यम्a statement / words
वाक्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवाक्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
साम्निin the Sāman (chant)
साम्नि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसामन्
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
हिindeed / for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
उच्चारितेwhen (it was) uttered / upon being recited
उच्चारिते:
Adhikarana
TypeVerb
Rootउच्चारित (ppp of √चर् with ud-)
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
मयाby me
मया:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormInstrumental, Singular
रथन्तरेin the Rathantara (Sāman)
रथन्तरे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootरथन्तर
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
द्विजश्रेष्ठO best of the twice-born (Brahmin)
द्विजश्रेष्ठ:
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज-श्रेष्ठ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
सम्यक्properly / correctly
सम्यक्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसम्यक्
इतिthus
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
वर्ततेproceeds / is (being done)
वर्तते:
TypeVerb
Root√वृत्
FormPresent (Laṭ), 3rd, Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
R
Rathantara (Sāman)
S
Sāman (Sāmavedic chant)
D
dvija (Brahmin/ritual specialist)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores the ethical and ritual importance of precision in sacred recitation: Vedic sound is treated as efficacious, so errors are to be noticed and corrected with discipline and humility.

During the chanting of a Sāmavedic hymn—specifically the Rathantara—Vaiśampāyana is interrupted by a speaker who points out that the recitation is not being performed correctly.