Shloka 15
Yayāti, Devayānī, Śarmiṣṭhā, and the Exchange of Youth: The Unsatisfied Nature of Desire
एवं क्षिपन्तीं शर्मिष्ठा गुरुपुत्रीमभाषत । रुषा श्वसन्त्युरङ्गीव धर्षिता दष्टदच्छदा ॥ १५ ॥
evaṁ kṣipantīṁ śarmiṣṭhā guru-putrīm abhāṣata ruṣā śvasanty uraṅgīva dharṣitā daṣṭa-dacchadā
Śukadeva Gosvāmī sagte: Als sie so mit grausamen Worten zurechtgewiesen wurde, war Śarmiṣṭhā sehr wütend. Schwer atmend wie eine Schlange und sich mit den Zähnen auf die Unterlippe beißend, sprach sie wie folgt zur Tochter von Śukrācārya.
FAQs
This verse portrays how biting words inflame anger—Śarmiṣṭhā reacts “like a serpent,” showing that insults can quickly escalate conflict and lead to sinful actions.
Devayānī was repeatedly insulting her; feeling deeply affronted, Śarmiṣṭhā—overcome by rage—replied, setting the stage for the ensuing incident in their narrative.
Avoid retaliating to provocation with sharp words; pause before responding, because reactive speech multiplies conflict and can trigger consequences far beyond the original offense.