Shloka 2

Uttaṅka’s Petition for Madayantī’s Divine Earrings (Maṇikuṇḍala) — Agreement, Proof, and Vigilance

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच उत्तड़को महता युक्तस्तपसा जनमेजय । गुरुभक्त: स तेजस्वी नान्यत्‌ किंचिदपूजयत्‌

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: Uttaṅko mahatā yuktaḥ tapasā Janamejaya; gurubhaktas sa tejasvī nānyat kiñcid apūjayat.

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说：“阇那梅阇耶啊，仙人乌坦迦具足大苦行。其灵威炽盛，且对师长之奉爱坚固不移；他不礼敬他神，唯以师（Guru）为至上所敬。”

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaiśampāyana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• उत्तङ्कः: Uttaṅka (the sage)
• उत्तङ्कः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तङ्क
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महता: by/with great (means)
• महता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• युक्तः: endowed/engaged
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• तपसा: with austerity/penance
• तपसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• जनमेजय: O Janamejaya
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनमेजय
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• गुरु-भक्तः: devoted to (his) teacher
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरुभक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• तेजस्वी: radiant/energetic
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तेजस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अन्यत्: anything else/another (thing)
• अन्यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• किञ्चित्: anything (at all)
• किञ्चित्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अपुजयत्: worshipped/honoured
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Uttaṅka
• Janamejaya
• guru

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse elevates guru-bhakti as a central ethical and spiritual discipline: true radiance (tejas) is grounded in tapas and unwavering reverence for one’s teacher, without scattering devotion among competing objects.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana introduces Uttaṅka to King Janamejaya by describing his character—his great austerities, spiritual brilliance, and exclusive devotion to his guru—setting the stage for Uttaṅka’s role in the ensuing account.