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Game 2

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

kṛṣṇamukhī na mārjārī dvijihvā na ca sarpiṇī ।
pañcabhartā na pāñcālī yo jānāti sa paṇḍitaḥ ॥

Exposition:
This verse is a प्रहेलिका(prahelikā), 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 ॥

kṛṣṇa-mukhī na mārjārī dvi-jihvā na ca sarpiṇī ।
pa~nca-bhartā na pā~ncālī yaḥ jānāti saḥ paṇḍitaḥ ॥

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

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

लेखनी
lekhanī
A Pen!

The nib of a pen is black with ink, and 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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