Shloka 46

Adhyaya 8 — Harishchandra’s Trial: Truth, the Sale of Family, and Bondage to a Chandala

Sanskrit

काण्डिग्भूतोऽधमो निःस्वो नृशंसधनिनार्दितः ।

भार्यास्य भूयः प्राहेदं क्रियतां वचनं मम ॥

Transliteration

kāṇḍigbhūto ’dhamo niḥsvo nṛśaṃsa-dhaninārdhitaḥ |

bhāryāsya bhūyaḥ prāhedaṃ kriyatāṃ vacanaṃ mama ||

Translation

«وقد أُذِلَّ إلى حالٍ بائس—وضيعًا معدمًا—ومُعَذَّبًا على يدِ غنيٍّ قاسٍ، عادت زوجةُ الرجل فقالت ثانيةً: “لْتُنَفَّذْ كلماتي”.»

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Devi Mahatmyam section (specific speaker in this verse: ‘the wife’ of the wealthy oppressor
• as described)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Social ethics (oppression by the wealthy)
• Karmic consequence (implied narrative setup)
• Compassion vs. cruelty