Game 12

Question:

अनेकसुषिरं वाद्यं कान्तं च ऋषिसज्ञितम् ।

चक्रिणा च सदाराध्यं यो जानाति स पण्डितः ॥

anekasuShiraM vaadyaM kaantaM ca RuShisan~jitam |

cakriNaa ca sadaaraadhyaM yo jaanaati sa paNDitaH ||

Exposition:

Solve this प्रहेलिका (prahelikaa - riddle).

After splitting the composite words (sandhis), it could be read as -

अनेक-सुषिरं वाद्यं कान्तं च ऋषि-सज्ञितम् ।

चक्रिणा च सदा-आराध्यं यः जानाति सः पण्डितः ॥

aneka-suShiraM vaadyaM kaantaM ca RuShi-san~jitam |

cakriNaa ca sadaa-aaraadhyaM yaH jaanaati saH paNDitaH ||

Meaning:
An instrument with many holes, beautiful and bearing the name of a Sage, ever adored by the Wielder of the Discus; he who knows this is a scholar.

Answer:
This interesting verse is a Samyukta-prahelikā (सम्युक्त-प्रहेलिका), meaning it is a combination of a few categories of prahelikās.

• It is a Śleṣa (श्लेष), meaning riddles based on double meanings or puns. A single word or phrase can be split or interpreted in two different ways to solve the puzzle.
• It is also a Bahirlāpikā (बहिर्लापिका) riddle, as the answer lies outside the verse and must be guessed based on the clues provided.
• It is also a Prasiddha-kathā-āśraya (प्रसिद्ध-कथा-आश्रय), meaning it requires the knowledge of a Paurāṇika (पौराणिक) story as the key to its solution.

Initially, the verse leads us to think the answer is - a Flute, an instrument with many holes, has a reference to the lineage of sages (Vaṃśa, also means bamboo) and is always held by Kṛṣṇa. 

But, let's see some special words in the verse here -

वाद्यं (vaadyam) if split as वा + आद्यम् - 

    means starting with 'va'

कान्तं (kaantam) if split as का + अन्तम् - 

    means ending with 'ka'

चक्री (cakrī) is also a synonym for a serpent due to its coils. 

The reference of a sage here is that of Valmīki, who emerged out of an anthill, and serpents take shelter here.  

Therefore, the answer would be 

वल्मीकम् 

Valmīkam

Anthill 

P.S.:  'Flute' is a great distracting answer.  But Anthill is a better suit because 

• A flute has finite holes, an anthill has numerous (as in the verse)
• Vaṃśa is a lineage, whereas the verse refers to one sage (Valmīki)
• A flute is held by Kṛṣṇa, whereas a serpent takes shelter here (as in the verse)

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Game 11

Question:

अस्थि नास्ति शिरो नास्ति बाहुरस्ति निरङ्गुलिः ।

नास्ति पादद्वयं गाढम् अङ्गम् आलिङ्गति स्वयम् ॥

asthi naasti Siro naasti baahurasti nira~nguliH |

naasti paadadvayaM gaaDham a~ngam aali~ngati svayam ||

Exposition:

Solve this प्रहेलिका (prahelikaa - riddle).

After splitting the composite words (sandhis), it could be read as -

अस्थि न अस्ति शिरः न अस्ति बाहुः अस्ति निरङ्गुलिः ।

न अस्ति पाद-द्वयं गाढम् अङ्गम् आलिङ्गति स्वयम् ॥

asthi na asti SiraH na asti baahuH asti nira~nguliH |

na asti paada-dvayaM gaaDham a~ngam aali~ngati svayam ||

Meaning:
It has no bones or a head. It has arms, but no fingers. It has no legs. But it embraces tightly on its own. 

Answer:
This is a Bahirlāpikā (बहिर्लापिका) riddle, as the answer lies outside the verse and must be guessed based on the clues provided.

The answer is: 

युतकम् 

yutakam

A Shirt

The "arms" without fingers are the sleeves, the lack of bones/head/legs describes the fabric garment, and the "embrace" is how a shirt fits onto a person's torso.

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Game 10

Question:

एकचक्षुर्न काकोऽसौ बिलमिच्छन्न पन्नगः ।

क्षीयते वर्धते चैव यो जानाति स पण्डितः ॥

ekacakShurna kaako.sau bilamichChanna pannagaH |

kSheeyate vardhate caiva yo jaanaati sa paNDitaH ||

Exposition:

Solve this प्रहेलिका (prahelikaa - riddle).

After splitting the composite words (sandhis), it could be read as -

एक-चक्षुः न काकः असौ बिलम् इच्छन् न पन्नगः ।

क्षीयते वर्धते च एव यो जानाति सः पण्डितः ॥

eka-cakShuH na kaakaH asau bilam icCan na pannagaH |

kSheeyate vardhate ca eva yo jaanaati saH paNDitaH ||

Meaning:

Has a single eye but not a crow. It seeks out holes but is not a serpent. It wanes and waxes as it travels. He who knows is a scholar!

Answer:
This is a Bahirlāpikā (बहिर्लापिका) riddle, as the answer lies outside the verse and must be guessed based on the clues provided.

Answer is: 

सूची

sūcī 

Needle

"Has one eye but is not a crow": Refers to the eye of the needle through which the thread is passed. (In Indian folklore, crows are often depicted as having only one functional eye).

"Desires a hole but is not a snake": Refers to the needle constantly piercing through fabric (creating or entering a "hole") as it moves.

"Wanes and waxes (shrinks and grows)": This refers to the thread attached to the needle. As you sew, the length of the thread used "wanes" (gets shorter), or it describes the motion of the needle itself, appearing and disappearing through the cloth.

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Game 9

Question:

कस्तूरी जायते कस्मात् को हन्ति करिणां शतम् ।

 किं कुर्यात् कातरो युद्धे मृगात् सिंहः पलायनम् ॥

kastooree jaayate kasmaat ko hanti kariNaaM shatam |

kiM kuryaat kaataro yuddhe mRugaat siMhaH palaayanam ||

Exposition:

Solve this प्रहेलिका (prahelikaa - riddle).

After splitting the composite words (sandhis), it could be read as -

कस्तूरी जायते कस्मात् कः हन्ति करिणां शतम् ।

किं कुर्यात् कातरः युद्धे मृगात् सिंहः पलायनम् ॥

kastooree jaayate kasmaat kaH hanti kariNaaM Satam |

kiM kuryaat kaataraH yuddhe mRugaat siMhaH palaayanam ||

Meaning:
What is Musk born of? Who kills a hundred elephants? What does a coward do in a war? From a deer, a lion runs! 

Answer:

When read directly, this verse makes no sense at all!  How can a lion run away from a deer?!  

This is a special type of prahelika called Samasyā-pūrti (समस्यापूर्ति). It is a "problem-solving" challenge where a poet is given a single, seemingly nonsensical line (the samasyā - 4th quarter of the verse) and he must compose the rest of the verse to make that line logical.  

When seen like this, the verse suddenly becomes clear - 

What is Kasturi (musk) born of? 

A: From a deer

Who kills a hundred elephants? 

A: A Lion

What does a coward do in a war?

A: Runs 

That completes the riddle :).  So, it is not what it seems! 

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