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Game 2

Question:
कृष्णमुखी न मार्जारी द्विजिह्वा न च सर्पिणी ।
पञ्चभर्ता न पाञ्चाली यो जानाति स पण्डितः ॥


kRuShNamukhI na maarjaarI dvijihvaa na cha sarpiNI |
pa~nchabhartaa na paa~nchaalI yo jaanaati sa paNDitaH ||

Exposition:
This verse is a प्रहेलिका(prahelikaa), a riddle.  The challenge is to solve it!

कृष्ण-मुखी न मार्जारी द्वि-जिह्वा न च सर्पिणी ।
पञ्च-भर्ता न पाञ्चाली यः जानाति सः पण्डितः ॥

kRuShNa-mukhI na maarjaarI dvi-jihvaa na cha sarpiNI |
pa~ncha-bhartaa na paa~nchaalI yaH jaanaati saH paNDitaH ||

Meaning:
Black-faced, not a cat; double-tongued, not a snake;
Has 5 care-takers, not draupadI (of mahaabhaarata); he who knows is a clever person.

Answer:
लेखनी
lekhanI
A Pen!

The nib of a pen is black with ink, the nib is split in the middle to allow the flow of ink.  The 5 fingers that hold it are its caretakers.  Did you know the answer?  Aren't you clever! :).


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Game 1

Question:
वृक्षाग्रवासी न च पक्षिराजः
त्रिनेत्रधारी न च शूलपाणिः ।
त्वग्वस्त्रधारी न च सिद्धयोगी
जलञ्च बिभ्रन्न घटो न मेघः ॥


vRukShaagravaasI na cha pakShiraajaH
trinetradhaarI na cha shUlapaaNiH |
tvagvastradhaarI na cha siddhayogI
jala~ncha bibhranna ghaTo na meghaH ||

Exposition:
This verse is a प्रहेलिका(prahelikaa), a riddle.  The challenge is to solve it!

वृक्ष अग्र वासी न च पक्षि-राजः
त्रि-नेत्र-धारी न च शूल-पाणिः ।
त्वक् वस्त्र-धारी न च सिद्ध-योगी
जलं च बिभ्रत् न घटः न मेघः ॥

vRukSha agra vaasI na cha pakShi-raajaH
tri-netra-dhaarI na cha shUla-paaNiH |
tvak vastra-dhaarI na cha siddha-yogI
jalaM cha bibhrat na ghaTaH na meghaH ||

Meaning:
Lives on treetops, but not the king of birds
Has three eyes, but isn't Lord shiva (one who holds the trident)
Robed in clothes of bark, but isn't an ascetic
Bearing water, but neither a pot nor a cloud!

Answer:
नारिकेलः
naarikelaH
A coconut!

Now, that's self-explanatory!

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