atha tat-vākyam ājñāya = hearing his words; rājā = the king; caṇḍālatām gataḥ = who had become a caṇḍāla; abravīt = speak; prāñjaliḥ = joined his palms together in supplication; vākyam = the following words; vākyajñaḥ = but who knew how to [properly]; vākya-kovidam = to Viśvāmitra who was expert in speech.