Shloka 6

उत्तङ्कोपाख्यानम् — Maṇi-Kuṇḍala Retrieval and Entry into Nāgaloka

Chapter 57

Devanagari script

उत्तड्ुक उवाच एवमस्तु महाराज समय: क्रियतां तु मे । गुर्वर्थमभिनिर्वर्त्य पुनरेष्यामि ते वशम्‌

Transliteration

uttaṅka uvāca evam astu mahārāja samayaḥ kriyatāṁ tu me | gurvartham abhinirvartya punar eṣyāmi te vaśam ||

Translation

Uttaṅka thưa: “Vâng, tâu Đại vương. Nhưng xin lập một giao ước với thần: sau khi thần hoàn tất bổn phận đối với thầy và nộp trọn lễ phí cho thầy, thần sẽ trở lại và một lần nữa đặt mình dưới quyền bệ hạ.”

Word by Word

• उत्तङ्कः: Uttaṅka
• उत्तङ्कः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तङ्क
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular

• एवम्: thus; so
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• अस्तु: let it be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Imperative, 3rd, Singular

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• समयः: agreement; condition
• समयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: समय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्रियताम्: let (it) be made
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Imperative, 3rd, Singular, Passive

• तु: but; however
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• मे: for me; to me
• मे: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Dative, Singular

• गुरु-अर्थम्: for the teacher's sake; (as) the teacher's purpose
• गुरु-अर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभिनिर्वर्त्य: having accomplished; having carried out
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-नि-√वृत्
• Form: Lyap (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (base)

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• एष्यामि: I shall come
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ
• Form: Simple Future, 1st, Singular

• ते: of you; your
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• वशम्: control; subjection
• वशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

उत्तड्ुक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Uttaṅka
• Mahārāja (the king addressed)
• Guru (teacher, implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma through fidelity to one’s obligations: Uttaṅka prioritizes completing his guru’s purpose (including guru-dakṣiṇā) while also honoring a social-political commitment by returning afterward. Ethical action is framed as keeping agreements without abandoning higher duties.

What is happening in the narrative?

Uttaṅka accepts the king’s proposal in principle but sets a condition: he must first finish the task connected to his teacher and settle the teacher’s due. Only after fulfilling that responsibility will he return and submit again to the king’s authority.