Shloka 52

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

Sanskrit

यदि वः कस्यचित् कार्यं दास्या प्राणेष्टया मम ।

स ब्रवीतु त्वरायुक्तो यावत् सन्धारयाम्यहम् ॥

Transliteration

yadi vaḥ kasyacit kāryaṃ dāsyā prāṇeṣṭayā mama | sa brīvītu tvarāyukto yāvat sandhārayāmy aham ||

Translation

إن كان لأحدٍ منكم شأنٌ مع خادمتي العزيزة، فليتكلم سريعًا—ما دمتُ ما أزال أحبسها عنكم.

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Devi Mahatmyam (battle taunt/challenge addressed to the opposing side); framed traditionally as the Devi’s utterance in the combat scene

Primary Deities

• Devi (Chandika/Durga)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Divine sovereignty in battle
• Rhetorical challenge/taunt in dharmic warfare narrative
• Protection and restraint (the Goddess controlling the battlefield)