Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

अथ ते राक्षसा: सर्वे येडभिरक्षन्ति पद्मिनीम्‌ प्रत्युत्थिता भगवन्तं मणिभद्रपुरोगमा:

Transliteration

atha te rākṣasāḥ sarve yeḍabhirakṣanti padminīm pratyutthitā bhagavantaṁ maṇibhadrapurogamāḥ

Translation

Da erhoben sich alle Rākṣasas, die Padminī bewachten, in ehrerbietiger Aufmerksamkeit vor dem Verehrungswürdigen, mit Maṇibhadra an der Spitze.

Word by Word

अथthen

तेthose/they

राक्षसाःRakshasas (demons)

सर्वेall

येwho

इभिःwith elephants

रक्षन्तिprotect/guard

पद्मिनीम्Padminī (a woman named Padminī)

प्रत्युत्थिताःhaving risen up (in response)

भगवन्तम्the Blessed Lord

मणिभद्रपुरोगमाःhaving Maṇibhadra in front/led by Maṇibhadra

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Rākṣasas

Padminī

Bhagavān (revered person addressed/encountered)

Maṇibhadra

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even beings associated with violence or fear (rākṣasas) can act within dharma when they recognize rightful spiritual or moral authority; reverence and self-restraint are presented as marks of order and righteousness.

What is happening in the narrative?

The rākṣasas assigned to guard Padminī rise and present themselves respectfully before a revered figure, with Maṇibhadra leading them, indicating a formal reception and acknowledgment of higher status.