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Shloka 133

कच-देवयानी संवादः

Kaca–Devayānī Dialogue and the Curse on Vidyā

निर्जने विपिने रम्ये शकुन्तै: परिवारिताम्‌ । (मां दृष्टवैवान्वपद्यन्त पादयो: पतिता द्विजा: । अब्रुवज्छकुना: सर्वे कल॑ मधुरभाषिण: ।। इस प्रकार वहाँ शकुन्त ही मेनकाकुमारीकी रक्षा कर रहे थे। उसी समय आचमन करनेके लिये जब मैं मालिनीतटपर गया तो देखा--यह रमणीय निर्जन वनमें पक्षियोंसे घिरी हुई सो रही है। मुझे देखते ही वे सब मधुरभाषी पक्षी मेरे पैरोंपर गिर गये और सुन्दर वाणीमें इस प्रकार कहने लगे

nirjane vipine ramye śakuntaiḥ parivāritām | māṃ dṛṣṭvaivānvapadyanta pādayoḥ patitā dvijāḥ | abruvañ śakunāḥ sarve kalaṃ madhurabhāṣiṇaḥ ||

Kaṇva sprach: „In einem schönen, menschenleeren Wald sah ich sie, von Vögeln umgeben. Sobald sie mich erblickten, fielen jene ‘zweimal Geborenen’ zu meinen Füßen und redeten mich mit sanfter, süßer Stimme an.“ Die Szene zeigt den Schutz des Kindes als stille, dharmische Obhut über das Wehrlose: selbst die Geschöpfe der Wildnis erkennen den rechtschaffenen Asketen und suchen seine Hilfe, statt ihn zu fürchten.

निर्जनेin a solitary (place)
निर्जने:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootनिर्जन
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular
विपिनेin the forest
विपिने:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootविपिन
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
रम्येpleasant/beautiful
रम्ये:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootरम्य
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
शकुन्तैःby birds
शकुन्तैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशकुन्त
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
परिवारिताम्surrounded
परिवारिताम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootपरि-√वृ (वारयति)
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)
माम्me
माम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
Form—, Accusative, Singular
दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
TypeVerb
Root√दृश्
FormAbsolutive (क्त्वा)
एवindeed/just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
अन्वपद्यन्तthey fell down/fell at (followingly)
अन्वपद्यन्त:
TypeVerb
Rootअनु-√पद्
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
पादयोःat (my) two feet
पादयोः:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootपाद
FormMasculine, Locative, Dual
पतिताःhaving fallen
पतिताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Root√पत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural, Past active participle (क्त)
द्विजाःbirds (lit. twice-born)
द्विजाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
अब्रुवन्they said
अब्रुवन्:
TypeVerb
Root√ब्रू
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
शकुनाःbirds
शकुनाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशकुन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सर्वेall
सर्वे:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
कलम्sweet/soft (tone)
कलम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootकल
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
मधुर-भाषिणःsweet-speaking
मधुर-भाषिणः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमधुरभाषिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

कण्व उवाच

K
Kaṇva
Ś
Śakuntalā (implied as 'her')
B
birds (śakuntāḥ/śakunāḥ)
F
forest (vipina)
M
Mālinī riverbank (from the given narrative context)

Educational Q&A

Dharma is shown as protective care for the helpless: the ascetic’s presence inspires trust, and even wild creatures participate in safeguarding the vulnerable, implying that righteousness naturally draws beings toward refuge and compassion.

Kaṇva describes encountering a girl lying in a beautiful, lonely forest, surrounded by birds. On seeing him, the birds approach, fall at his feet, and speak sweetly—signaling that they have been guarding her and are now entrusting her to the sage.