lesson 4 granthālaye

at the library,

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Woman: svāgatam! kathaṃ upakartum śaknomi ?

Welcome to ( Nepal National Library ).. how may I help you ?

Traveller: aham saṃskṛtapriyaḥ,

i am interested in Sanskrit ..

tathā hi gharial guran ca draṣṭum icchāmi,

and to see the gharial and guran…

api ca navīnānubhāvaṃ prāptum.

and to have an adventure.

W: asmākaṃ rāṣṭrīyavākyaṃ saṃskṛtabhāṣāyāṃ likhitam

Our national motto is in Sanskrit.

guran rāṣṭrīyapuṣpam asti

The guran is our national flower.

gharial granthālaye draṣṭum na śakyate kevalam nadīṣu, ha ha…

You will not see gharial in the library, but only in the rivers.

guran api sarvatra draṣṭum śakyate kintu naivāsmin gṛhe.

Haha. You can see guran everywhere… but not in this building.

W: aham api saṃskṛtapriyaḥ,

i am interested in Sanskrit also.

ataḥ iha asmi.

This is why I am here…

asmākam bahavaḥ granthāḥ santi.

we have many old manuscripts.

T: tatra naram paśyāmi, purātanena pustakena.

i see a man there, with an old book.

W: saḥ jyotiṣī vartate, purāṇasanskṛtapustakaṃ paṭhan.

He is a jyotishi , studying an old Sanskrit document.

T: aham jyotiṣam api veda.

i do not know about jyotish.

W: tena saṃvaditum arhati bhavān.

You must talk with-him...

saḥ uttamaṃ saṃskṛtaṃ vadati.

He speaks excellent Sanskrit.

saḥ vaditum samarthaḥ yadā yātrā ārabdhavyā.

He can tell you when to begin your journey.

T: mama yātrā? Saiva ārabdhā.

My adventure ? It has started.

W: tena saṃvadatu,

Talk to him now.

guran gharial ca pratidinam draṣṭum śakyate…

Guran and gharial are out every day…

saḥ tyajati śvaḥ.

He is leaving tomorrow.

T: upakṛto’smi, aham tena saṃvadiṣyāmi.

Thank you, I will do it.

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T: bhoḥ, kṣamyatām, bhavatā vaditum śaknomi vā?

Sir ? May I speak with you ?

Jyothshi: ām, mama camatkāraḥ asti yataḥ bhavān saṃskṛtaṃ vadati.

Yes. I am surprised that you have Sanskirt.

T: granthālayasya sevikā tena saha vadatu iti uktavatī.

The library woman told me I should speak to you.

J: aham jyotiṣaśāstre uttamam vivaraṇam kṛtavān,

i have made a great discovery in the field of Jyotish,

yad asmin purātane granthe āsīt.

from this old manuscript.

T: kimartham jyotiś cañcalam bhavati?

Why are the lights flashing ?

J: tad vaidhikam atra.

That is normal.

tad darśayati yat vidyut balavatī nāstyeva,

It is a signal that the electricity is not strong.

athavā pustakālayaḥ apidhīyate.

Or that the library is closing.

T: cāyāpaṇaṃ pathaḥ pratipakṣe gantum śaknuvaḥ.

We can go across the street to a tea shop.

J: ām

Yes.

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