Shloka 43

Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)

Devanagari script

अन्यथा किल ते वाक्यमन्यथा कर्म दृश्यते । दम्भनार्थाय लोकस्य वेदाश्लोपशमश्न ते

Transliteration

anyathā kila te vākyam anyathā karma dṛśyate | dambhanārthāya lokasya vedāślopśamam aśnute ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：“你的言辞似是一套，你的行径却是另一套。你研习吠陀、装出宁静的样子，不过是做给世人看的伪饰，只为惑众欺人。”

Word by Word

• अन्यथा: otherwise, differently
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा

• किल: indeed, it is said
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल

• ते: of you/your
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: any, genitive, singular

• वाक्यम्: speech, statement
• वाक्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• अन्यथा: otherwise, differently
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा

• कर्म: action, deed
• कर्म: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• दृश्यते: is seen, appears
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: present, indicative, ātmanepada (passive sense), 3rd, singular

• दम्भनार्थाय: for the purpose of deception/ostentation
• दम्भनार्थाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम्भनार्थ
• Form: masculine, dative, singular

• लोकस्य: of the people/world
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• वेदाः: the Vedas (Vedic studies/recitations)
• वेदाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• श्लोपशमः: recitation and calmness (as a pair)
• श्लोपशमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लोपशम
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• अश्नते: he eats/enjoys/appropriates
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश्
• Form: present, indicative, ātmanepada, 3rd, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• loka (the people/world)
• Veda

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Ethical integrity is measured by alignment between speech and conduct; outward displays of learning and serenity, if used to mislead society, become dambha (hypocritical show) rather than dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a sharp moral critique: the addressed person is accused of speaking piously while acting differently, using Vedic study and a calm demeanor as a public-facing mask to influence or deceive others.