Shloka 17

Adhyāya 122 — Śruta-vṛtta-yukta Brāhmaṇa and the Ethics of Dāna

Maitreya–Vyāsa Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

प्रसादात्‌ सत्यसंधस्य भवतोडमिततेजस: । यदहं कीटतां प्राप्य सम्प्राप्तो राजपुत्रताम्‌,आप सत्यप्रतिज्ञ हैं, अमित तेजस्वी हैं, आपके प्रसादसे ही आज मैं कीड़ेसे राजपूत हो गया हूँ

Transliteration

prasādāt satyasaṃdhasya bhavato 'mitatejasaḥ | yad ahaṃ kīṭatāṃ prāpya samprāpto rājaputratām ||

Translation

那虫说道：“承蒙你——守真不渝、光辉无量者——的恩泽，我这曾堕为区区蠕虫之身者，如今竟得成王子之位。”

Word by Word

• प्रसादात्: from (your) favor/grace
• प्रसादात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• सत्यसन्धस्य: of the truth-pledged (one)
• सत्यसन्धस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यसन्ध
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• भवतः: of you
• भवतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: भवत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अमिततेजसः: of (you) of immeasurable splendor
• अमिततेजसः: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमिततेजस्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• यत्: that (fact) / because
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अहम्
• Form: —, Nominative, Singular

• कीटताम्: the state of being a worm/insect
• कीटताम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीटता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• प्राप्य: having attained
• प्राप्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), —

• सम्प्राप्तः: has reached/obtained
• सम्प्राप्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-आप्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle, used actively), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजपुत्रताम्: the status of being a king’s son/princehood
• राजपुत्रताम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजपुत्रता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

कीट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• कीट (the insect speaker)
• सत्यसंध (the truth-bound person addressed)
• राजपुत्र (prince/king’s son status)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Truthfulness (satya) and steadfast integrity (satyasaṃdha) are presented as ethically potent forces: the favor of a righteous, truth-bound person can elevate and transform even the most fallen condition into honor and dignity.

What is happening in the narrative?

An insect, speaking in gratitude, addresses a truth-steadfast, radiant person and credits that person’s grace for its extraordinary change of fortune—from the lowly state of a worm to the status of a prince.