Shloka 4

मधुकैटभवधोपाख्यानम्

The Account of the Slaying of Madhu and Kaiṭabha

Devanagari script

श्रूयते हि महाभाग बको दाल्भ्यो महातपा: । प्रियः सखा च शक्रस्य चिरजीवी च सत्तम,महाभाग मुनिश्रेष्ठ दल्भके पुत्र महातपस्वी बक ऋषि चिरजीवी तथा देवराज इन्द्रके प्रिय मित्र सुने जाते हैं

Transliteration

śrūyate hi mahābhāga bako dālbhyo mahātapāḥ | priyaḥ sakhā ca śakrasya cirajīvī ca sattama ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: “Bậc cao quý ơi, theo truyền tụng thì Baka Dālbhya là một đại khổ hạnh—bậc thượng nhân, trường thọ, và là bạn tri kỷ của Śakra (Indra).”

Word by Word

• श्रूयते: is heard / is said
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: Lat, Atmanepada, Karmani, Prathama, Eka

• हि: indeed / for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• महाभाग: O fortunate one
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pum, Sambodhana, Eka

• बकः: Baka (a sage named Baka)
• बकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pum, Prathama, Eka

• दाल्भ्यः: Dālbhyā (patronymic/lineage name)
• दाल्भ्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाल्भ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pum, Prathama, Eka

• महातपाः: great ascetic
• महातपाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महातपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pum, Prathama, Eka

• प्रियः: dear
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pum, Prathama, Eka

• सखा: friend
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pum, Prathama, Eka

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

• शक्रस्य: of Śakra (Indra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pum, Shashthi, Eka

• चिरजीवी: long-lived
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिरजीविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pum, Prathama, Eka

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

• सत्तम: O best of the good
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pum, Sambodhana, Eka

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Baka Dālbhya
• Śakra (Indra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how moral and spiritual authority is established through recognized tradition: a sage known for austerity, excellence, and long life is presented as a trustworthy source or focal figure, and friendship with Indra signals divine regard for virtue.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana introduces the sage Baka Dālbhya, describing him as a great ascetic, exceptionally long-lived, and a beloved friend of Indra—setting the stage for a subsequent episode involving this revered figure.