येनेहाऽननुभूतेऽर्थे दृष्टेनाऽर्थेन बोधनम् । बोधोपकारफलदं तं दृष्टान्तं विदुर्बुधाः ॥ ५० ॥
yēnēhā’nanubhūtē’rthē dṛṣṭēnā’rthēna bōdhanam | bōdhōpakāraphaladaṁ taṁ dṛṣṭāntaṁ vidurbudhāḥ || 50 ||
Translation
That by which a thing not yet experienced is made known through a thing that has been seen, giving the fruit of helping understanding: the wise call that an illustration.
Word by word
- yēna
- that by which
- iha
- here
- ananubhūtē
- not yet experienced
- arthē
- a thing
- dṛṣṭēna
- that has been seen
- arthēna
- through a thing
- bōdhanam
- is made known
- bōdha
- understanding
- upakāra
- of helping
- phala
- the fruit
- daṁ
- giving
- taṁ
- that
- dṛṣṭāntaṁ
- an illustration
- vidur
- (viduḥ) call
- budhāḥ
- the wise
Meaning
The definition of dṛṣṭānta. The commentary gives the word's derivation: that in which the seen (dṛṣṭa) reaches its end (anta), or that by whose likeness the matter at hand is settled. A known thing is used to make an unknown one understood.