Shloka 4

Garuḍa Learns the Cause of Vinatā’s Bondage and the Nāgas Demand Amṛta (Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 23)

Devanagari script

ततः सा विनता तस्मिन्‌ पणितेन पराजिता । अभवद्‌ दुःखसंतप्ता दासीभावं समास्थिता,पहलेकी लगायी हुई बाजी हारकर विनता उस स्थानपर दुःखसे संतप्त हो उठी और उसने दासीभाव स्वीकार कर लिया

Transliteration

tataḥ sā vinatā tasmin paṇitena parājitā | abhavad duḥkha-santaptā dāsī-bhāvaṃ samāsthitā ||

Translation

Da wurde Vinatā, in jener Wette besiegt, von Kummer und Qual verzehrt; sie nahm den Stand der Knechtschaft an. Der Abschnitt betont die sittliche Gefahr unbedachten Glücksspiels und unüberlegter Gelübde: Ein Verlust im Augenblick kann zu dauernder Erniedrigung und Abhängigkeit führen.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

साshe

विनताVinata

तस्मिन्in that (matter/place)

पणितेनby the wager/bet

पराजिताdefeated, having been defeated

अभवत्became, was

दुःखसंतप्ताafflicted/tormented by sorrow

दासीभावम्the state of being a maidservant

समास्थिताhaving assumed/accepted

Speaker

शौनक उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vinatā

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A reckless wager can create binding consequences that compromise dignity and freedom; dharma cautions against impulsive gambling and urges foresight, self-restraint, and responsibility for one’s commitments.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vinatā loses the bet she had made and, as the agreed consequence, is overwhelmed with sorrow and accepts the status of a servant (dāsī-bhāva).