Shloka 19
Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances
Devanagari script
तीक्ष्णा इति वयं ख्याता भवन्तं ज्ञापयामहे । मृदुपूर्व हितं चैव श्रेयश्चवाधिगमिष्यसि
Transliteration
tīkṣṇā iti vayaṁ khyātā bhavantaṁ jñāpayāmahe | mṛdu-pūrvaṁ hitaṁ caiva śreyaś cāvādhigamiṣyasi ||
Translation
舍尔图拉说道：“世人皆知我们‘锋利’——天性严厉；我特此告知于你。若你以柔和之道行事，并专心致力于真正有益于我的事，你必定能获得利益与吉祥。”
Word by Word
{'tīkṣṇāḥ''sharp
{'tīkṣṇāḥ':
severe in temperament', 'iti''thus
severe in temperament', 'iti':
in this manner (quotative particle)', 'vayam''we', 'khyātāḥ': 'well-known
in this manner (quotative particle)', 'vayam':
reputed', 'bhavantam''you (honorific accusative)', 'jñāpayāmahe': 'we inform
reputed', 'bhavantam':
we make known', 'mṛdu''gentle
we make known', 'mṛdu':
mild', 'pūrvam''first
mild', 'pūrvam':
as a prior manner', 'hitam''welfare
as a prior manner', 'hitam':
what is beneficial', 'ca eva''and indeed
what is beneficial', 'ca eva':
and certainly', 'śreyaḥ''the good
and certainly', 'śreyaḥ':
auspicious welfare', 'ca''and', 'avādhigamiṣyasi': 'you will attain
auspicious welfare', 'ca':
Speaker
शार्टूल उवाच
Characters & Entities
श
शार्टूल (Śārṭūla)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Educational Q&A
Even when dealing with people known for harshness, one should pursue their welfare with gentleness; soft, well-intentioned conduct is presented as a means to attain śreyas (true good).
Śārṭūla addresses the listener, warning that his group is reputed to be severe by nature, and advises that if the listener continues with gentle, welfare-seeking behavior, the listener will gain auspicious benefit.