Shloka 21

Āśā-prabhava (आशाप्रभव) — On the Rise and Power of Hope/Expectation

Sumitra Itihāsa Begins

Devanagari script

ततो बृहस्पति शक्र: प्राउजलि: समुपस्थित: । तमुवाच महाप्राज्ञ: श्रेय इच्छामि वेदितुम्‌

Transliteration

tato bṛhaspatiṃ śakraḥ prāñjaliḥ samupasthitaḥ | tam uvāca mahāprājñaḥ śreya icchāmi veditum ||

Translation

于是释迦（因陀罗）合掌恭敬，前往婆罗诃斯波提处。并说道：“尊者，我愿知晓何者才是真正于我最上之利。”

Word by Word

• ततः: thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from that/thereupon')

• बृहस्पतिम्: Bṛhaspati
• बृहस्पतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहस्पति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्राञ्जलिः: with joined palms
• प्राञ्जलिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राञ्जलि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समुपस्थितः: having approached / standing near
• समुपस्थितः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उप-स्था
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• महाप्राज्ञः: very wise
• महाप्राज्ञः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाप्राज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्रेयः: the good / welfare
• श्रेयः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• इच्छामि: I desire
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वेदितुम्: to know
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद्
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

Speaker

घतयाट्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhaspati
• Śakra (Indra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even the powerful must seek guidance with humility; true wisdom begins by asking for śreyas—what leads to lasting welfare and righteousness—rather than merely pursuing immediate advantage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra (Śakra) respectfully approaches his guru Bṛhaspati with folded hands and asks to be instructed about the path to his highest good, setting the stage for ethical and spiritual counsel.