Question:
Exposition:
Meaning:
Answer:
This is a Bahirlāpikā (बहिर्लापिका) riddle, as the answer lies outside the verse and must be guessed based on the clues provided.
एकचक्षुर्न काकोऽसौ बिलमिच्छन्न पन्नगः ।
क्षीयते वर्धते चैव यो जानाति स पण्डितः ॥
ekacakṣurna kāko.sau bilamicchanna pannagaḥ ।
kṣīyate vardhate caiva yo jānāti sa paṇḍitaḥ ॥
Solve this प्रहेलिका (prahelikā - 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-cakṣuḥ na kākaḥ asau bilam icchan na pannagaḥ ।
kṣīyate vardhate ca eva yo jānāti saḥ paṇḍitaḥ ॥
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!
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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