Shloka 9

Devanagari script

आसीत्‌ तु मे भोगपते संशय: पुण्यसंचये । सो5हमुछ्छव्रतं साधो चरिष्याम्यर्थसाधनम्‌

Transliteration

āsīt tu me bhogapate saṁśayaḥ puṇya-saṁcaye | so 'ham ucchvavrataṁ sādho cariṣyāmy artha-sādhanam ||

Translation

婆罗门说道：“噢，享乐之主（bhogapati），我曾对积聚功德之事生起疑惑，不知当取何种修持为方便之道。但如今那疑云已被驱散。噢，善者——噢，那伽王——为成就我所期求之目标，我将奉行名为‘优阇婆弗罗多’（Ucchvavrata）的誓戒，以此为我所择之途。”

Word by Word

• {'āsīt': 'was

• existed (imperfect of √as)', 'tu': 'but

• indeed (emphatic/contrastive particle)', 'me': 'for me

• in me (gen./dat. of aham)', 'bhogapate': 'O lord/master of enjoyment(s)

• vocative of bhogapati (also an honorific address)', 'saṁśayaḥ': 'doubt

• uncertainty', 'puṇya-saṁcaye': 'in the accumulation/collection of merit (puṇya + saṁcaya, locative)', "saḥ aham (so 'ham)": 'I, that very person

• I indeed', 'ucchvavrataṁ': 'the vow/observance named Ucchvavrata (accusative singular)', 'sādho': 'O good one

• O virtuous person (vocative)', 'cariṣyāmi': 'I shall practice/undertake (future of √car)', 'artha-sādhanam': 'as a means to accomplish the desired purpose/goal (artha = aim

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• ब्राह्मण (the Brahmin speaker)
• नागराज (King of Serpents)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical discernment in choosing a spiritual discipline: when uncertain about how merit (puṇya) is best accumulated, one should seek clarity and then commit firmly to a chosen vow (vrata) as an appropriate means (sādhana) toward one’s rightful aim.

What is happening in the narrative?

A Brahmin addresses the Nāgarāja, explaining that he had been troubled by doubt about the correct method for gathering merit. Having resolved that doubt, he declares his decision to undertake the specific observance called Ucchvavrata to accomplish his intended objective.