Shloka 92

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

Devanagari script

प्रिया: स्त्रीणां यथा कामो रतिशीला हि योषित: । सहस्रे किल नारीणां प्राप्पेतेका कदाचन

Transliteration

priyāḥ strīṇāṃ yathā kāmo ratiśīlā hi yoṣitaḥ | sahasre kila nārīṇāṃ prāpyate ekā kadācana ||

Translation

Aṣṭāvakra sprach: „Wie Begierde den Frauen lieb ist und Frauen von Natur zu Liebe und Innigkeit neigen, so findet sich auch—unter Tausenden von Frauen—bisweilen eine, die wahrhaft erlangt wird: eine seltene, außergewöhnliche Gefährtin.“

Word by Word

प्रियाःdear, beloved

स्त्रीणाम्of women

यथाas, just as

कामःdesire, love

रतिशीलाःgiven to pleasure (sexual enjoyment)

हिindeed, for

योषितःwomen

सहस्रेin a thousand

किलit is said, indeed

नारीणाम्of women

प्राप्यhaving obtained, having found

एकाone (single)

कदाचनsometimes, ever/at any time

Speaker

अष्टावक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

Aṣṭāvakra

women (striyaḥ/yoṣitaḥ/nāryaḥ)

kāma (desire)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores discernment in relationships: desire and attraction are common human impulses, but a truly fitting, exceptional partner is rare and is ‘attained’ only sometimes—implying the need for restraint, careful choice, and ethical conduct rather than being driven merely by kāma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Aṣṭāvakra is speaking in a didactic context within Anuśāsana Parva, offering observations about human tendencies and the rarity of an ideal companion, as part of broader moral instruction on conduct and values.