Shloka 123

आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः

Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca

Devanagari script

उन्माथमप्यथादाय चाण्डालो वीक्ष्य सर्वश:,भरतश्रेष्ठ] चाण्डालने उस जालको लेकर उसे सब ओरसे उलट-पलटकर देखा और निराश होकर क्षणभरमें उस स्थानसे हट गया और अन्तमें अपने घरको चला गया

Transliteration

unmātham apy athādāya cāṇḍālo vīkṣya sarvaśaḥ

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“那旃陀罗也拾起那器具，从四面反复察看；见其无用、亦无所获之望，便顷刻离开此处，终究回到家中——这正说明：当人于不当得之处求利时，欲望终将坍塌为失望。”

Word by Word

• उन्माथम्: the churning-stick / stirring-rod
• उन्माथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उन्माथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अपि: also, even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• आदाय: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• चाण्डालः: the caṇḍāla (outcaste man)
• चाण्डालः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाण्डाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वीक्ष्य: having looked at, having examined
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• सर्वशः: in every way, on all sides
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Caṇḍāla
• unmātha (object/implement)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the futility of grasping for benefit where none is rightful or available: thorough scrutiny ends in disillusionment, and the seeker departs empty-handed—an ethical prompt toward restraint and contentment.

What is happening in the narrative?

A Caṇḍāla picks up an implement (unmātha) and inspects it from all sides; failing to find any value or purpose, he leaves the place and returns home.