Shloka 66

आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः

Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca

Devanagari script

बुद्धिमान्‌ वाक्यसम्पन्नस्तद्वाक्यमनुवर्णयन्‌ । स्वामवस्थां समीक्ष्याथ साम्नैव प्रत्यपूजयत्‌

Transliteration

buddhimān vākyasampannas tadvākyam anubarṇayan | svāmavasthāṁ samīkṣyātha sāmnaiva pratyapūjayat ||

Translation

Nó vốn thông minh sắc sảo và tinh thông lời nói. Trước hết, nó nhẩm lại lời ấy trong lòng; rồi xét đến cảnh ngộ của mình, nó đáp bằng sách lược hòa giải (sāma) và hết lời ca ngợi con chuột.

Word by Word

• बुद्धिमान्: intelligent, wise
• बुद्धिमान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुद्धिमत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वाक्यसम्पन्नः: endowed with good speech/eloquence
• वाक्यसम्पन्नः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक्यसम्पन्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वाक्यम्: speech, statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अनुवर्णयन्: repeating, recounting
• अनुवर्णयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + वर्णय्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्वाम्: one's own
• स्वाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अवस्थाम्: condition, state
• अवस्थाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवस्था
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• समीक्ष्य: having considered/observed
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + ईक्ष्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), true

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ
• Form: true

• साम्ना: by conciliation/soothing policy (sāman)
• साम्ना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• एव: indeed, only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव
• Form: true

• प्रत्यपूजयत्: praised/honoured in return
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + पूज्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• mouse (mūṣaka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Before responding, one should reflect on one’s own position and choose the appropriate means; when direct force is unwise, conciliation and respectful speech (sāma) can be the most dharmic and effective strategy.

What is happening in the narrative?

A skilled and intelligent speaker mentally reviews what the mouse has said, assesses his own circumstances, and then replies using conciliatory policy—praising the mouse profusely to achieve his aim through diplomacy rather than conflict.