Shloka 7

Nāgendra–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda: Praśna-vidhi and Dharmic Approach on the Gomatī Riverbank

Devanagari script

एतन्न: संशयं ब्रह्मन्‌ पुराणं ज्ञानसम्भवम्‌ | कथयस्वोत्तममते महापुरुषनिर्मितम्‌

Transliteration

etannaḥ saṁśayaṁ brahman purāṇaṁ jñānasambhavam | kathayasvottamamate mahāpuruṣanirmitam ||

Translation

绍那迦说道：“婆罗门啊，请为我们解除此疑。请宣说那由真实智慧所生的古老传说——由大德圣贤所撰——哦，具最上明悟者。”

Word by Word

• एतत्: this (matter)
• एतत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• नः: of us / our
• नः: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Plural

• संशयम्: doubt
• संशयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin / O sage
• ब्रह्मन्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पुराणम्: ancient lore / Purana
• पुराणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ज्ञानसम्भवम्: arising from knowledge
• ज्ञानसम्भवम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान-सम्भव
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कथयस्व: tell / narrate
• कथयस्व: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (कथ् + णिच्)
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• उत्तममते: O one of excellent understanding
• उत्तममते: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तम-मति
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• महापुरुषनिर्मितम्: made/composed by a great person
• महापुरुषनिर्मितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महापुरुष-निर्मित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

शौनक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka
• Brahman (addressed sage/interlocutor)
• Purāṇa (ancient narrative)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dharmic method of learning: sincere doubt should be clarified through authoritative, knowledge-grounded tradition (purāṇa) transmitted by the wise.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śaunaka respectfully requests a learned Brahmin to dispel the listeners’ uncertainty by narrating an ancient, spiritually informed account attributed to a great sage.