पावनानामुदाराणां परबोधैकदायिनाम् । वचसां भाजनं भूत्यै भव्यो भवति नाऽधमः ॥ ५ ॥
pāvanānāmudārāṇāṁ parabōdhaikadāyinām | vacasāṁ bhājanaṁ bhūtyai bhavyō bhavati nā’dhamaḥ || 5 ||
Translation
The fortunate person becomes, for his welfare, a vessel of words that purify, that are noble and that alone give the highest understanding; the base one does not.
Word by word
- pāvanānām
- that purify
- udārāṇāṁ
- that are noble
- para
- the highest
- bōdha
- understanding
- ēka
- alone
- dāyinām
- that give
- vacasāṁ
- of words
- bhājanaṁ
- a vessel
- bhūtyai
- for his welfare
- bhavyō
- (bhavyaḥ) the fortunate person
- bhavati
- becomes
- na
- not
- adhamaḥ
- the base one
Meaning
The words are the teaching to come, and three things are said of them: they purify, they are generous, and they give, as nothing else does, the knowledge of the highest. The commentary: only the one endowed with the qualities described becomes their vessel, not the base. A vessel receives what is poured into it only if it is turned the right way up.