Chapter 1 · Prathamo’dhyāyaḥ (First Chapter)
Verse 39–40
राजोवाच ॥ ३९ ॥ भगवंस्त्वामहं प्रष्टुमिच्छाम्येकं वदस्व तत् ॥ ४० ॥
rājōvāca || 39 || bhagavaṁstvāmahaṁ praṣṭumicchāmyēkaṁ vadasva tat || 40 ||
Translation
The king said: 'O Blessed One, I wish to ask you one thing; please tell me that.'
Word by word
- Rājovāca
- The king said
- bhagavan
- O Blessed One, O Reverend Sir
- tvām
- you
- aham
- I
- praṣṭum
- to ask
- icchāmi
- I wish
- ekam
- one thing
- vadasva
- please tell
- tat
- that
Meaning
King Suratha, as the spokesperson for both, humbly and respectfully initiates the dialogue with the sage. The use of the honorific bhagavan signifies his reverence. He gets straight to the point, indicating the depth of his need for an answer.