Shloka 75

Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

सात्व॑ं जातिं श्रुतं वृत्तं भाव॑ प्रकृतिमात्मन: । कृत्यमागमने चैव वक्तुमरहसि तत्त्वतः

Transliteration

sāttvaṁ jātiṁ śrutaṁ vṛttaṁ bhāvaṁ prakṛtim ātmanaḥ | kṛtyam āgamane caiva vaktum arhasi tattvataḥ ||

Translation

遮那迦王曰：“汝当如实陈述汝之族姓、汝于圣典传统之所学、汝之行止、汝之意向、汝之天性，并说明汝来此之缘由。是故，噫出家行者，当依真实而详言此诸事。”

Word by Word

• सात्वम्: goodness/nobility (sattva-nature)
• सात्वम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सात्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• जातिम्: birth/caste
• जातिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुतम्: learning; what has been heard (scriptural knowledge)
• श्रुतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुत (प्रातिपदिक; √श्रु क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वृत्तम्: conduct/behavior
• वृत्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक; √वृत् क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भावम्: disposition/intention
• भावम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रकृतिम्: nature/temperament
• प्रकृतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आत्मनः: of yourself
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• कृत्यम्: purpose/task (what is to be done)
• कृत्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आगमने: in (your) coming/arrival
• आगमने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आगमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• वक्तुम्: to tell/speak
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु; तुमुन्)
• Form: Infinitive (tumun)

• अर्हसि: you ought/are fit
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: Present, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तत्त्वतः: truly/in reality
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्त्वतस्

Speaker

जनक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• saṁnyāsin (renunciant)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Truthful self-disclosure and transparency are presented as ethical prerequisites for dialogue on dharma: one should state one’s background, learning, conduct, intention, and purpose without concealment.

What is happening in the narrative?

King Janaka addresses a visiting renunciant and requests a truthful account of the renunciant’s lineage, learning, character, inner disposition, and the reason for coming—setting the ground for a serious discussion on spiritual and ethical matters.