Shloka 78

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

Sanskrit

पक्षिण ऊचुः तमेवमुक्त्वा राजेन्द्रं निष्ठुरं निर्घृणं वचः ।

तदादाय धनं तूर्णं कुपितः कौशिको ययौ ॥

Transliteration

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ tam evam uktvā rājendraṁ niṣṭhuraṁ nirghṛṇaṁ vacaḥ |

tad ādāya dhanaṁ tūrṇaṁ kupitaḥ kauśiko yayau ||

Translation

قالت الطيور: وبعد أن خاطب سيّدَ الملوك بكلماتٍ قاسيةٍ لا رحمة فيها، أسرع كوشيكا (Kauśika) وهو غضبان فأخذ المال وانصرف.

Word by Word

• पक्षिणः: birds
• पक्षिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (manner adverb)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Absolutive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• राजेन्द्रम्: the king (king of kings)
• राजेन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—राजा एव इन्द्रः (कर्मधारय)

• निष्ठुरम्: harsh
• निष्ठुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्ठुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (राजेन्द्रम् प्रति)

• निर्घृणम्: merciless
• निर्घृणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्घृण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (राजेन्द्रम् प्रति)

• वचः: words, speech
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (वचः/धनं प्रति निर्देशः)

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Absolutive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-दा (धातु) → आदाय (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्/तुमुन्-समकक्ष (gerund/absolutive) ‘आदाय’, अव्ययभाव

• धनम्: wealth, money
• धनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• तूर्णम्: swiftly
• तूर्णम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्णम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शीघ्रार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• कुपितः: angered
• कुपितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुप् (धातु) → कुपित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कौशिकः प्रति)

• कौशिकः: Kauśika (Viśvāmitra)
• कौशिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speakers

• The Birds (Dharmapakṣis) narrating

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "raudra", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics of speech
• Kingship conduct
• Anger and its consequences
• Narrative instruction

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse highlights how cruel, uncompassionate speech (niṣṭhura, nirghṛṇa vacaḥ) provokes anger and rupture of relationship, leading to immediate practical loss—here, the wealth is taken and the offended party departs. It implicitly warns rulers that verbal cruelty is a form of adharma that triggers retaliation and social breakdown.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

This passage functions primarily as dharma-nirdeśa embedded in an itihāsa-like narrative (ākhyāna) within the Purāṇic frame dialogue. It is not directly sarga/pratisarga or manvantara/vaṁśa material in this verse; it aligns most with Purāṇic instruction through exemplary story (often grouped under ākhyāna/dharma-śikṣā rather than the core five).

What is the esoteric significance?

On a symbolic level, ‘harsh, pitiless speech’ represents tamasic distortion of vāk (speech-power). When vāk is misused, harmony (ṛta/dharma) collapses and prosperity (dhanam) departs. Kauśika’s swift exit after taking wealth can be read as Lakṣmī-like fortune withdrawing from a ruler who abandons compassion and restraint.