Shloka 22

उत्तङ्कोपाख्यानम् — Maṇi-Kuṇḍala Retrieval and Entry into Nāgaloka

Chapter 57

Devanagari script

इमे हि दिव्ये मणिकुण्डले मे देवाश्न यक्षाश्व महर्षयश्न । तैस्तैरुपायैरपहर्तुकामा- श्छिद्रेषु नित्यं परितर्कयन्ति

Transliteration

ime hi divye maṇikuṇḍale me devāś ca yakṣāś ca maharṣayaś ca | tais tair upāyair apahartukāmāś chidreṣu nityaṁ paritarkayanti ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：“我这两只嵌宝耳环，确是天赐之物。诸天、夜叉与大圣仙，为欲夺取，计谋层出不穷，常常窥伺，寻觅任何破绽与空隙，好乘机取走。”

Word by Word

• {'ime': 'these', 'hi': 'indeed, surely', 'divye': 'divine, celestial', 'maṇi-kuṇḍale': 'jewel(-set) earrings', 'me': 'my', 'devāḥ': 'gods, Devas', 'yakṣāḥ': 'Yakṣas (semi-divine beings/guardians of treasures)', 'maharṣayaḥ': 'great ṛṣis, exalted sages', 'tais tair upāyaiḥ': 'by this and that means

• by various stratagems', 'apahartu-kāmāḥ': 'wishing to take away, intent on stealing', 'chidreṣu': 'in loopholes, weak points, openings', 'nityam': 'always, constantly', 'paritarkayanti': 'they deliberate, calculate, keep considering'}

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• maṇikuṇḍala (divine jewel earrings)
• Devas
• Yakṣas
• Maharṣis

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even exalted beings may be drawn toward coveted objects; therefore one should remain vigilant about “loopholes” (chidra)—weak points in conduct, attention, or circumstance—through which loss, harm, or adharma can enter.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker states that his jewel earrings are celestial and highly desired. Devas, Yakṣas, and great sages continually look for an opportunity or weakness to take them away, employing many different means.