Shloka 38

Adhyaya 20 — Ritadhvaja’s Companionship with the Naga Princes and the Origin of the Horse Kuvalaya

Sanskrit

योजनानां सहस्राणि व्रजन् याति पितीलिकः ।

अगच्छन् वैनतेयोऽपि पादमेकं न गच्छति ॥

Transliteration

yojanānāṃ sahasrāṇi vrajan yāti pitīlikaḥ | agacchan vainateyo 'pi pādam ekaṃ na gacchati ||

Translation

Một con kiến, khi chuyển động, có thể đi qua hàng nghìn do-tuần; nhưng ngay cả Vainateya (Garuḍa), nếu không chuyển động, cũng không thể đi nổi một bước.

Word by Word

• yojanānām: of yojanas
• yojanānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; 'of yojanas' (measure of distance)

• sahasrāṇi: thousands
• sahasrāṇi: Karma (कर्म/extent as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा विभक्ति (2nd/Acc. used as measure; also form = Nom/Acc), बहुवचन; here as extent/measure

• vrajan: going
• vrajan: Karta (कर्ता/agent, participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vraj (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'going'

• yāti: goes
• yāti: Kriyā (क्रिया/main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• pitīlikaḥ: an ant
• pitīlikaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitīlika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• agacchan: not going
• agacchan: Karta (कर्ता/agent, participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त) with negation prefix a-
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'not going'

• vainateyaḥ: Garuḍa
• vainateyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vainateya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; Garuḍa (son of Vinatā)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle modifying emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) = 'even/also'

• pādam: a step
• pādam: Karma (कर्म/object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; 'a step/foot'

• ekam: one
• ekam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण of 'pādam'

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation of verb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• gacchati: goes
• gacchati: Kriyā (क्रिया/main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speakers

• Continuing dialogue (speaker not explicitly tagged in this verse).

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "hasya", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Garuḍa (Vainateya)

Key Themes

• Effort over potential
• Motivational teaching
• Analogy

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Consistent action outweighs latent capacity. Even the mighty achieve nothing without initiative, while the small can cross vast distances through persistence.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

An instructive exemplum supporting dharma/artha instruction; not a pancalakṣaṇa narrative unit.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Ant’ symbolizes humble sādhana (small daily practice). ‘Garuḍa’ symbolizes great potential or spiritual power; without activation (practice), power remains inert.