Shloka 89

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

Devanagari script

भद्रे निर्वेष्टकामं मां विद्धि सत्येन वै शपे

Transliteration

bhadre nirveṣṭakāmaṁ māṁ viddhi satyena vai śape

Translation

O edle Frau, wisse, dass ich einer bin, dessen Begierden unverstrickt und frei sind; bei der Wahrheit selbst schwöre ich dir dies.

Word by Word

• भद्रे: O auspicious lady / O good one
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (स्त्री. भद्रा)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• निर्वेष्टकामम्: desiring to be freed/unbound (from bonds)
• निर्वेष्टकामम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्वेष्टकाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अहम् (मद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: —, Accusative, Singular

• विद्धि: know; understand
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (ज्ञाने)
• Form: Imperative, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सत्येन: by truth; truly
• सत्येन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• वै: indeed; surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• शपे: I swear
• Type: Verb
• Root: शप् (शपथे)
• Form: Present, 1st, Singular, Atmanepada

Speaker

अष्टावक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Aṣṭāvakra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse upholds truthfulness and inner freedom: a person established in truth can solemnly affirm their desirelessness, presenting self-mastery (freedom from entangling desires) as an ethical ideal.

What is happening in the narrative?

Aṣṭāvakra addresses a woman respectfully and makes a formal oath ‘by truth’ to assert his state of being free from entangling desires, strengthening the credibility of his statement in the ongoing discourse.