वत्सराजोऽपि तं प्राप्तं प्रदत्तोपायनं नृपम्। प्रीत्या सम्मानयामास शूरा हि प्रणतिप्रियाः॥
vatsarājo 'pi taṃ prāptaṃ pradattopāyanaṃ nṛpam । prītyā sammānayāmāsa śūrā hi praṇatipriyāḥ ॥
Meaning of Vatsarājo 'Pi Taṃ Prāptaṃ
True warriors are endowed with courage, valour and generosity. They show affection and respect towards those who treat them with humility and regard. They value cordial conduct, because those who respectfully show humility are dear to them.
Word by word
- वत्सराजोऽपिvatsarājo 'pi
Vatsaraja too
वत्सराजः + अपि; api means also or too.
- तंtaṃ
that
- प्राप्तंprāptaṃ
who had arrived
- प्रदत्तोपायनंpradattopāyanaṃ
who had presented gifts
pradatta + upāyana, with gifts already offered.
- नृपम्nṛpam
king
- प्रीत्याprītyā
with affection
- सम्मानयामासsammānayāmāsa
honoured
A periphrastic perfect expressing a completed act of honouring.
- शूराśūrā
the brave
śūrāḥ before hi loses its final visarga.
- हिhi
for, indeed
- प्रणतिप्रियाःpraṇatipriyāḥ
fond of respectful homage
praṇati + priya; praṇati is bowing or respectful submission.
Commentary
Vatsaraja receives a king who has arrived and offered gifts, and honours him with affection. The word prītyā makes the warmth of that reception explicit, while pradattopāyana describes the visitor as someone who has presented an offering. The closing statement, śūrā hi praṇatipriyāḥ, explains this response by saying that brave people cherish respectful homage. Praṇati literally suggests bowing, and in this royal encounter it conveys an acknowledgement of the other king's authority. The supplied meaning draws a broader lesson about generosity and cordial conduct from this particular act of welcome. In everyday disagreements, the episode invites us to consider how strength can coexist with a gracious response when another person approaches respectfully.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More from Kathasaritsagara
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Just as a farmer reaps a harvest from a small seed, a person achieves great success from even a small effort when nurtured with pure determination.
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A reflection on how glorious fame and extraordinary achievements are only possible through the embrace of courage.
More subhashitams on Courage
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