प्रामाणिकस्य पृष्टस्य वक्तुरुत्तमचेतसः । यत्नेन वचनं ग्राह्यमंशुकेनेव कुङ्कुमम् ॥ ४४ ॥
prāmāṇikasya pṛṣṭasya vakturuttamacētasaḥ | yatnēna vacanaṁ grāhyamaṁśukēnēva kuṅkumam || 44 ||
Translation
When such a speaker, reliable and of the highest mind, has been asked, his words should be taken up with care, as a cloth takes saffron.
Word by word
- prāmāṇikasya
- of one reliable
- pṛṣṭasya
- who has been asked
- vaktur
- (vaktuḥ) of a speaker
- uttama
- of the highest
- cētasaḥ
- mind
- yatnēna
- with care
- vacanaṁ
- words
- grāhyam
- should be taken up
- aṁśukēna
- by a cloth
- iva
- as
- kuṅkumam
- saffron
Meaning
The commentary gives the craft behind the image: a washed cloth, dipped in fast dye, seizes the colour and does not let it go. So to receive properly one must first be washed, as verses 5 to 7 of the last sarga asked. Saffron is not laid on a cloth. It enters the threads, and the verse asks that the teaching should enter in the same way.