Shloka 21

Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances

Devanagari script

गोमायुरुवाच सदृशं मृगराजैतत्‌ तव वाक्‍्यं मदन्तरे । यत्‌ सहायान्‌ मृगयसे धर्मार्थकुशलान्‌ शुचीन्‌

Transliteration

gomāyur uvāca sadṛśaṃ mṛgarāja etat tava vākyaṃ mad-antare | yat sahāyān mṛgayase dharmārtha-kuśalān śucīn |

Translation

豺狼说道：“噢，百兽之王，你对我所说之言，实在完全称得上与你相称。你寻求品行清净、通达法（dharma）与利（artha）的同伴（大臣），也确是正当之举。”

Word by Word

• गोमायुः: the jackal
• गोमायुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमायु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular

• सदृशम्: befitting, suitable
• सदृशम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• मृगराज: O king of beasts (lion)
• मृगराज: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• वाक्यम्: speech, statement
• वाक्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• मत्-अन्तरे: with regard to me / in my case
• मत्-अन्तरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् + अन्तर
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• यत्: that (which)
• यत्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• सहायान्: helpers, allies, ministers
• सहायान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहाय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• मृगयसे: you seek, look for
• मृगयसे: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृगय्
• Form: Present, Second, Singular

• धर्म-अर्थ-कुशलान्: skilled in dharma and artha
• धर्म-अर्थ-कुशलान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + अर्थ + कुशल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शुचीन्: pure, clean (in conduct)
• शुचीन्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

शार्टूल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• गोमायु (jackal)
• मृगराज (lion)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s search for advisers should prioritize moral purity (śuci) and competence in both dharma (ethical duty) and artha (practical governance). Worthy counsel is presented as essential to righteous and effective rule.

What is happening in the narrative?

In an animal-fable style exchange, the jackal addresses the lion, affirming that the lion’s words are appropriate and praising the lion’s intention to seek capable and upright companions/ministers.