Shloka 4

Adhyaya 36 — Madalasa’s Final Counsel and the Renunciation of King Ritadhvaja

Sanskrit

भार्यया सह धर्मात्मा यियासुस्तपसे वनम् ।

अवतीर्णो महारक्षो महाभागो महीपतिः ॥

Transliteration

bhāryayā saha dharmātmā yiyāsustapase vanam | avatīrṇo mahārakṣo mahābhāgo mahīpatiḥ

Translation

Jener rechtschaffene König, der große Beschützer und glückverheißene Herr der Erde, brach mit seiner Gemahlin in den Wald auf, um Askese (tapas) zu üben.

Word by Word

• भार्यया: with (his) wife
• भार्यया: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/सह), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक-उपपद (postposition governing instrumental)

• धर्मात्मा: righteous-souled
• धर्मात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (dharmasya ātmā)

• यियासुः: wishing to go
• यियासुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: देशिदेरिवेटिव/इच्छार्थक-प्रातिपदिक: यियासु (desiderative noun/adjective from √yā), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to wish to go’

• तपसे: for austerity
• तपसे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• अवतीर्णः: having descended/retired (set out)
• अवतीर्णः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava+√tṝ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे (as predicate of subject)

• महारक्षः: great protector/guardian
• महारक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (mahān rakṣaḥ)

• महाभागः: very fortunate/noble
• महाभागः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (mahān bhāgaḥ)

• महीपतिः: king/lord of the earth
• महीपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī-pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (mahīyāḥ patiḥ)

Speakers

• Narrator (continuing the account of Ṛtadhvaja and Madālasā)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Vānaprastha
• Tapas
• Detachment
• Ideal kingship

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse upholds the dharmic ideal that even sovereign power is subordinate to spiritual aims; householders (and rulers) should know when to step back and pursue tapas.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Vaṃśānucarita: exemplary conduct of kings within a lineage narrative; it illustrates dharma in action rather than cosmogenesis.

What is the esoteric significance?

The forest symbolizes interiorization: moving from external protection of a realm to guarding the mind through austerity and restraint.