Shloka 3

Sāma (Sāntva) and Dāna: The Brāhmaṇa’s Conciliatory Release from a Rākṣasa

Devanagari script

व्यास उवाच यद्‌ यदिच्छसि मैत्रेय यावद्‌ यावद्‌ यथा यथा । ब्रृहि तत्त्वं महाप्राज्ञ शुश्रेषे वचनं तव

Transliteration

vyāsa uvāca | yad yad icchasi maitreya yāvad yāvad yathā yathā | brūhi tattvaṃ mahāprājña śuśrūṣe vacanaṃ tava ||

Translation

毗耶娑曰：“弥勒耶，大智者啊，你想说什么——要说多少、以何种方式——尽管说来。请道出此事之真谛；我已准备聆听你的言辞。”

Word by Word

• व्यासः: Vyasa
• व्यासः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यत्: whatever (that which)
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• इच्छसि: you desire / wish
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Present, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मैत्रेय: O Maitreya
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• यावत्: as much as / to whatever extent
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत्

• यावत्: as much as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत्

• यथा: as / in whatever manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• यथा: as / in whatever manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• ब्रूहि: speak / tell
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तत्त्वम्: the truth / the reality
• तत्त्वम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• महाप्राज्ञ: O greatly wise one
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाप्राज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• शुश्रूषे: I wish to listen / I am eager to hear
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Present, First, Singular, Atmanepada

• वचनम्: speech / words
• वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तव: of you / your
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• Maitreya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse models dhārmic dialogue: a wise listener invites free, complete, and truthful speech. It emphasizes openness, respect for the speaker, and commitment to hearing the truth (tattva) without restriction of quantity or style.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa addresses Maitreya and grants him full freedom to speak—whatever he wishes, as much as he wishes, and in whatever manner—while declaring his readiness to listen attentively. It sets the tone for an instructive exchange.