Quiz · 9.26–9.34
A leaf, a flower, a fruit, water
Cover the answer. Read the Devanagari of the verse before you open it.
1
In 9.27, what form is kuruṣva (कुरुष्व), and what does it tell him to do with the five yat (यत्) clauses?
Answer
It is the imperative, second person singular, middle, of kṛ (कृ), "do, make." The five clauses are what he does, what he eats, what he pours in the fire, what he gives, and whatever austerity he takes on. kuruṣva (कुरुष्व) tells him to make all of that मत्-अर्पणम् mat-arpaṇam, an offering to him.
2
In 9.31, śaśvat (शश्वत्) stands in front of śāntim (शान्तिम्). What is recited, and which sandhi makes it?
Answer
śaśvacchāntim (शश्वच्छान्तिम्). त् + श् t + ś becomes च्छ cch.
3
Say what 9.26 says, in one sentence.
Answer
Whoever offers him a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water with devotion, that, brought in devotion, he eats, from the one whose self is restrained.
4
Where does 9.26–9.34 sit in the talk between Arjuna (अर्जुन) and Kṛṣṇa (कृष्ण)?
Answer
A leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, offered with devotion, he eats. Whatever one does, eats, offers, gives, or takes on as austerity is to be made an offering to him, and from that he is released from fruits good and not good. Kṛṣṇa (कृष्ण) is the same in all beings; those who worship him with devotion are in him, and he is in them. Even a life of very bad conduct, if the worship has no other, is to be thought good, and he tells Arjuna (अर्जुन) to promise that his devotee does not perish. People of a birth the line calls bad go to the highest goal if they resort to him, and how much more the brahmins and the royal sages. The stretch ends on the command: set the mind on him, be devoted, sacrifice, bow.
5
Say the commands of 9.34. Which word fails the sitting if the bow is missing?
Answer
mat-manāḥ bhava (मत्-मनाः भव), be my devotee, be my sacrificer, and bow: mat-bhaktaḥ (मत्-भक्तः), mat-yājī (मत्-याजी), mām namas-kuru (माम् नमस्-कुरु). Then you will come to him alone. If namas-kuru (नमस्-कुरु) drops, stay.