Shloka 23

कल्माषपाद-शाप-कारणम्

Cause of Kalmāṣapāda’s Niyoga under a Curse

Devanagari script

स हि राजा बृहत्कीर्तिर्थर्मार्थविदुदारधी: । युक्त: संवरणो भर्ता दुहितुस्ते विहंगम,उस राजाकी कीर्ति बहुत दूरतक फैली हुई है। वे धर्म और अर्थके ज्ञाता तथा उदार बुद्धिवाले हैं; अतः आकाशचारी सूर्यदेव! महाराज संवरण आपकी पुत्रीके लिये सुयोग्य पति होंगे

Transliteration

sa hi rājā bṛhatkīrtir dharmārthavid udāradhīḥ | yuktaḥ saṃvaraṇo bhartā duhituste vihaṅgama ||

Translation

Vasiṣṭha sprach: „Jener König Saṃvaraṇa ist weithin berühmt. Er kennt Dharma und Artha und ist von edlem Sinn. Darum, o du, der den Himmel durchmisst (Sonnengott), ist Saṃvaraṇa ein passender Gemahl für deine Tochter.“

Word by Word

सःhe

हिindeed/for

राजाking

बृहत्कीर्तिःof great fame

धर्मार्थविद्knower of dharma and artha

उदारधीःof noble/intelligent mind

युक्तःfit/suitable/endowed

संवरणःSamvarana (name of the king)

भर्ताhusband/lord

दुहितुःof (your) daughter

तेyour

विहंगमO sky-goer/bird (vocative epithet)

Speaker

वसिष्ठ उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vasiṣṭha

Saṃvaraṇa

Sūrya (Sun-god)

Sūrya's daughter (Tapati)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s suitability is measured by fame grounded in virtue: knowledge of dharma (right conduct) and artha (responsible prosperity and governance), together with nobility of mind. These qualities make one fit for social and familial responsibilities such as marriage and protection.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vasiṣṭha is recommending King Saṃvaraṇa to the Sun-god as a worthy bridegroom for the Sun’s daughter (Tapati), praising Saṃvaraṇa’s widespread renown, ethical discernment, and noble disposition to justify the match.