Chapter 1 · Prathamo’dhyāyaḥ (First Chapter)
Verse 49
केचिद्दिवा तथा रात्रौ प्राणिनस्तुल्यदृष्टयः। ज्ञानिनो मनुजाः सत्यं किं तु ते न हि केवलम् ॥ ४९ ॥
kēciddivā tathā rātrau prāṇinastulyadṛṣṭayaḥ | jñāninō manujāḥ satyaṁ kiṁ tu tē na hi kēvalam || 49 ||
Translation
'Some beings have equal vision by day and by night. Humans are truly perceiving beings, however, they are not the only ones.'
Word by word
- kēcit
- some
- divā
- by day
- tathā
- and
- rātrau
- by night
- prāṇinaḥ
- beings
- tulyadṛṣṭayaḥ
- having equal vision
- jñāninaḥ
- knowing, perceiving
- manuṣyāḥ
- humans
- satyam
- truly
- kiṁ tu
- however
- tē
- they
- na
- not
- hi
- indeed
- kēvalam
- alone, the only ones
Meaning
The sage continues his logic. He states that while humans have a broader range of perception (day and night) compared to some animals, this does not make them uniquely 'knowing' beings. Other creatures also possess knowledge within their own perceptual limits. This reframes the king's assumption that human 'knowledge' is supreme.