Shloka 89

Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy

Devanagari script

भद्रे निर्वेष्टकामं मां विद्धि सत्येन वै शपे

Transliteration

bhadre nirveṣṭakāmaṁ māṁ viddhi satyena vai śape

Translation

أيتها السيدة النبيلة، اعلمي أني رجلٌ رغباتُه غيرُ متشابكةٍ وحُرّة؛ وبالحقّ نفسه أقسم لكِ بذلك.

Word by Word

• भद्रे: O auspicious lady / O good one
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (स्त्री. भद्रा)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• निर्वेष्टकामम्: desiring to be freed/unbound (from bonds)
• निर्वेष्टकामम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्वेष्टकाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अहम् (मद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: —, Accusative, Singular

• विद्धि: know; understand
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (ज्ञाने)
• Form: Imperative, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सत्येन: by truth; truly
• सत्येन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• वै: indeed; surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• शपे: I swear
• Type: Verb
• Root: शप् (शपथे)
• Form: Present, 1st, Singular, Atmanepada

Speaker

अष्टावक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Aṣṭāvakra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse upholds truthfulness and inner freedom: a person established in truth can solemnly affirm their desirelessness, presenting self-mastery (freedom from entangling desires) as an ethical ideal.

What is happening in the narrative?

Aṣṭāvakra addresses a woman respectfully and makes a formal oath ‘by truth’ to assert his state of being free from entangling desires, strengthening the credibility of his statement in the ongoing discourse.