श्रूयमाणे हि शास्त्रेऽस्मिन् श्रोता वेत्त्येतदात्मना । यथावदिदमस्माभिर्ननूक्तं वरशापवत् ॥ १६ ॥
śrūyamāṇē hi śāstrē’smin śrōtā vēttyētadātmanā | yathāvadidamasmābhirnanūktaṁ varaśāpavat || 16 ||
- Another reading: वेत्ति तदात्मना (vētti tadātmanā) for वेत्त्येतदात्मना
Translation
For when this scripture is heard, the hearer knows this by himself. What we have said is true, like a boon or a curse.
Word by word
- śrūyamāṇē
- when heard
- hi
- for
- śāstrē
- scripture
- asmin
- this
- śrōtā
- the hearer
- vētti
- knows
- ētad
- (etat) this
- ātmanā
- by himself
- yathāvad
- (yathāvat) true
- idam
- this
- asmābhir
- (asmābhiḥ) we
- nanu
- surely
- uktaṁ
- what have said
- vara
- a boon
- śāpa
- or a curse
- vat
- like
Meaning
The commentary: on hearing this scripture the hearer himself experiences freedom while living; what we have said is as sure as a boon or a curse, and cannot turn out otherwise. A sage's boon or curse, in the old stories, never fails; Vasiṣṭha stakes his word on this scripture the same way. "By himself" (ātmanā): no one else can certify it.