Shloka 81

Adhyaya 23 — Ashvatara’s Vow for Madalasa and the Bestowal of Musical Science by Sarasvati

Sanskrit

तद्दोयतां द्विजसुतौ यदि वां प्रणयो मयि ।

एतावता अहं दैवेन वञ्चितोऽस्मि दुरात्मना ॥

Transliteration

tad doyatāṃ dvija-sutau yadi vāṃ praṇayo mayi |

etāvatāhaṃ daivena vañcito 'smi durātmanā ||

Translation

„So möge dies gegeben werden, o Söhne eines Brāhmaṇa, wenn ihr beide Zuneigung zu mir habt. Schon dadurch allein bin ich vom Geschick betrogen worden — von jener grausamen Macht.“

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Demonstrative pronoun, Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• दोयताम्: let it be given
• दोयताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• द्विज-सुतौ: O two sons of a Brahmin
• द्विज-सुतौ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Dual (द्विवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्विजस्य सुतौ)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional conjunction (शर्तार्थक अव्यय)

• वाम्: of you two
• वाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: 2nd person pronoun, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी) / Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Dual (द्विवचन); here genitive ‘of you two’

• प्रणयः: affection
• प्रणयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• मयि: in me/towards me
• मयि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: 1st person pronoun, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• एतावता: by this much/so far
• एतावता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); idiomatic ‘by this much/so far’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: 1st person pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• दैवेन: by fate
• दैवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• वञ्चितः: deceived/cheated
• वञ्चितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वञ्च् (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate with ‘अस्मि’

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada, 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• दुरात्मना: by the cruel/evil-souled (fate)
• दुरात्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi ‘one whose self is bad’ used as agent-like instrument with ‘दैवेन’ (by cruel fate)

Speakers

• Prince (addressing the two as dvija-sutau)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "karuna", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Fate (daiva) vs human intent
• Emotional appeal and attachment
• Social identity (dvija-sutau)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse dramatizes how attachment can leverage gifts and pity; dharmically, one must discern whether requests align with rightful obligation rather than be swayed by lamentation about fate.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita: a psychological turning-point in the story, not a cosmological or manvantara exposition.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Deceived by fate’ externalizes inner conflict: when desire is frustrated, the mind projects causality onto daiva; the spiritual lesson is to recover agency through dharma rather than fatalism.