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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