Shloka 413

Vṛddha-kanyā-carita and Balarāma’s Kurukṣetra Inquiry (वृद्धकन्या-चरितम् / कुरुक्षेत्रफल-प्रश्नः)

Devanagari script

अन्योन्यं परिपप्रच्छु: पुन: स्वाध्यायकारणात्‌ | जब बारह वर्षोंकी वह अनावृष्टि प्रायः बीत गयी, तब महर्षि पुनः स्वाध्यायके लिये एक-दूसरेसे पूछने लगे

Transliteration

anyonyam paripapracchuḥ punaḥ svādhyāya-kāraṇāt |

Translation

毗舍波耶那说道：当那持续十二年的大旱几近过去之时，诸位圣仙又再度彼此发问，为了圣典自修与守护吠陀之学，重启相互探究。

Word by Word

• अन्योन्यम्: mutually, one another
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य
• Form: Avyaya (adverbial accusative usage)

• परिपप्रच्छुः: they asked (repeatedly/around)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd person, plural, Parasmaipada

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः
• Form: Avyaya

• स्वाध्यायकारणात्: because of (for the sake of) self-study/recitation
• स्वाध्यायकारणात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय-कारण
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• maharṣis (sages)
• svādhyāya (Vedic study)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even after prolonged hardship (such as a multi-year drought), dharma is sustained by returning to svādhyāya—disciplined study and recitation—through which knowledge, restraint, and right conduct are preserved and transmitted.

What is happening in the narrative?

After a severe drought lasting twelve years has nearly ended, the sages renew their practice of svādhyāya by questioning one another, re-establishing the rhythm of learning and oral transmission.