Shloka 99

Adhyaya 21 — Kuvalayashva’s Descent to Patala and the Rescue of Madalasa

Sanskrit

पुत्रेण नातिशयितो यः प्रज्ञादानविक्रमैः ।

धिग्जन्म तस्य यः पित्रा लोके विज्ञायते नरः ॥

Transliteration

putreṇa nātiśayito yaḥ prajñādānavikramaiḥ / dhigjanma tasya yaḥ pitrā loke vijñāyate naraḥ

Translation

若一男子之子在智慧、施舍与勇武上不能胜过其父——嗟乎此人之生也；彼在世间仅因其父而为人所知。

Word by Word

• putreṇa: by (his) son / in comparison with the son
• putreṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; negation particle

• atiśayitaḥ: surpassed
• atiśayitaḥ: Pradhāna (प्रधान)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ati-śi (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘excelled/surpassed’

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; relative pronoun

• prajñā-dāna-vikramaiḥ: by wisdom, giving, and valor
• prajñā-dāna-vikramaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajñā (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: ‘by wisdom, generosity, and valor’

• dhik: shame on!
• dhik: Bhāva (भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhik (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; exclamatory particle of censure (निन्दार्थक)

• janma: birth
• janma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; here as object of censure

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th), Singular

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; relative pronoun (introducing second relative clause)

• pitrā: by the father
• pitrā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• vijñāyate: is known
• vijñāyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-jñā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Singular; Ātmanepada; passive/medio-passive sense ‘is known/recognized’

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; apposition to yaḥ

Speakers

• Father to son (didactic praise contrasting the unworthy)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "dharma", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Merit through excellence
• Generational responsibility
• Public reputation (kīrti)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse promotes a strong ethic of self-cultivation: one should not merely inherit status but exceed predecessors through wisdom, charity, and courage—qualities central to dharmic rulership and social worth.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Vaṃśānucarita: moral evaluation within dynastic narrative, using lineage as a vehicle for ethical instruction.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Surpassing the father’ can symbolize transcending inherited conditioning (saṃskāra) by cultivating higher discernment and disciplined action.