Shloka 100

Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy

Devanagari script

देवतेयं गृहस्यास्य शापात्‌ कि नु विरूपिता । अस्याश्न कारण वेत्तुं न युक्ते सहसा मया,वे सोचने लगे “यह नारी तो इस घरकी अधिष्ठात्री देवी है। फिर इसे इतना कुरूप किसने बना दिया? इसकी कुरूपताका कारण क्या है? इसे किसीका शाप तो नहीं लग गया। इसकी कुरूपताका कारण जाननेके लिये सहसा चेष्टा करना मेरे लिये उचित नहीं है!

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | devateyaṃ gṛhasyāsya śāpāt ki nu virūpitā | asyāḥ kāraṇaṃ vettuṃ na yukte sahasā mayā |

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „Er dachte: ‚Diese Frau ist die Schutzgottheit dieses Hauses. Warum also ist sie so entstellt worden — ist etwa ein Fluch auf sie gefallen? Doch es ziemt sich nicht, dass ich übereilt sogleich der Ursache ihrer Hässlichkeit nachspüre.‘“

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'devatā', 'definition': 'deity

• divine presence'}, {'term': 'gṛhasya', 'definition': 'of the house/household'}, {'term': 'asya', 'definition': 'of this'}, {'term': 'śāpāt', 'definition': 'from/owing to a curse'}, {'term': 'kim nu', 'definition': 'why indeed?

• could it be that...?'}, {'term': 'virūpitā', 'definition': 'made ugly/disfigured

• deformed'}, {'term': 'asyāḥ', 'definition': 'of her'}, {'term': 'kāraṇam', 'definition': 'cause

• reason'}, {'term': 'vettum', 'definition': 'to know

• to ascertain'}, {'term': 'na yukte', 'definition': 'not proper

• not fitting'}, {'term': 'sahasā', 'definition': 'suddenly

• at once'}, {'term': 'mayā', 'definition': 'by me'}]

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• household presiding deity (gṛha-devatā)
• curse (śāpa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when something appears morally or spiritually puzzling, one should not act or inquire rashly; dharma includes restraint, timing, and respectful discernment—especially regarding matters tied to divine or karmic causes.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma observes a woman identified as the household’s presiding deity yet appearing disfigured. He suspects a curse may be involved, but he decides it is improper to immediately press for the reason, choosing caution and propriety.