Shloka 41

Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

इन्द्रं दृष्टवा तु राजर्षि: पादयो: शिरसा गत: । प्रसीद त्रिदशश्रेष्ठ पुत्रकामेन स क्रतुः

Transliteration

indraṃ dṛṣṭvā tu rājarṣiḥ pādayoḥ śirasā gataḥ | prasīda tridaśaśreṣṭha putrakāmena sa kratuḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：见到因陀罗后，那位王者仙人趋前，以首叩拜于因陀罗足下。因渴求得子，那位行祭者（克罗图）恳求道：“愿垂慈悯，噢诸天之最胜者。”

Word by Word

• इन्द्रम्: Indra
• इन्द्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• राजर्षिः: the royal sage
• राजर्षिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजर्षि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पादयोः: at (his) two feet
• पादयोः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Dual

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• गतः: went/approached (bowed down)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle used actively), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रसीद: be gracious/please be pleased
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र- सद्
• Form: Loṭ (imperative), Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• त्रिदशश्रेष्ठ: O best of the gods
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदशश्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पुत्रकामेन: with desire for a son
• पुत्रकामेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुत्रकाम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्रतुः: Krat(u) (the sage named Kratu)
• क्रतुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Rājarṣi (royal sage)
• Kratu (sacrificer/possibly the person named Kratu)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores dharmic humility and proper reverence: even a powerful rājarṣi seeks legitimate aims (like progeny) through respectful supplication and ritual merit, recognizing that outcomes depend on divine favor rather than entitlement.

What is happening in the narrative?

A royal sage, identified as the sacrificer Kratu (or a sacrificer), meets Indra, bows at his feet, and requests Indra’s grace because he desires a son.