Shloka 3
Adhyāya 71: Kaca and the Saṃjīvanī-vidyā
Devayānī–Śukra Episode
श्रुत्वाथ तस्य तं शब्दं कन्या श्रीरिव रूपिणी । निश्चक्रामाश्रमात् तस्मात् तापसीवेषधारिणी,दुष्यन्तके उस शब्दको सुनकर एक मूर्तिमती लक्ष्मी-सी सुन्दरी कन्या तापसीका वेष धारण किये आश्रमके भीतरसे निकली
śrutvātha tasya taṃ śabdaṃ kanyā śrīr iva rūpiṇī | niścakrāmāśramāt tasmāt tāpasī-veṣa-dhāriṇī ||
Als sie seine Stimme hörte, trat aus der Einsiedelei ein Mädchen hervor, schön wie die leibhaftige Śrī (Fortuna), in das Gewand einer Asketin gekleidet.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical contrast and harmony between royal life and hermitage-dharma: true worth may appear in simple ascetic dress, and one should respond to such encounters with restraint, respect, and discernment.
After hearing a man’s voice (contextually King Duṣyanta), a radiant maiden likened to Lakṣmī steps out from the hermitage, dressed as a female ascetic—setting the stage for their consequential meeting.