Shloka 157

Adhyaya 8 — Harishchandra’s Trial: Truth, the Sale of Family, and Bondage to a Chandala

Sanskrit

इत्युक्त्वा सर्पपाशैस्तु नीयते बलवद्विभुः ।

श्राद्धदेवेन कथितं विश्वामित्रस्य चेष्टितम् ॥

Transliteration

ity uktvā sarpapāśais tu nīyate balavad vibhuḥ | śrāddhadevena kathitaṃ viśvāmitrasya ceṣṭitam ||

Translation

Nachdem so gesprochen war, wurde der mächtige Herr fortgeführt, gebunden mit Schlingen aus Schlangen. Diese Tat Viśvāmitras wurde von Śrāddhadeva berichtet.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Quotative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणसूचक (quotative)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• सर्पपाशैः: with serpent-nooses
• सर्पपाशैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प-पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्पाणां पाशाः)

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अवधारण (but/indeed)

• नीयते: is being led
• नीयते: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि (Passive)

• बलवत्: forcibly
• बलवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial: forcibly/strongly)

• विभुः: the mighty one, lord
• विभुः: कर्ता/कर्म (Subject of passive: the mighty one being led)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्राद्धदेवेन: by Śrāddhadeva (Yama)
• श्राद्धदेवेन: करण/कर्ता (Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्धदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (श्राद्धस्य देवः—यमः)

• कथितम्: told, narrated
• कथितम्: कर्म/विधेय (Predicate: was told)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विश्वामित्रस्य: of Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• चेष्टितम्: deed, action
• चेष्टितम्: कर्म/विधेय (What was told)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेष्टित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक (act/deed)

Speakers

• Narratorial; attribution to Śrāddhadeva as narrator/source within the tradition

Primary Deities

• Yama (implied via agents/binding)

Key Themes

• Daṇḍa (punitive restraint)
• Authority of narrative transmission
• Sage-power affecting royal fate

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Binding imagery emphasizes that embodied beings—even kings—are constrained by the results of actions and by higher ordinance. The mention of Śrāddhadeva underscores the purāṇic concern for authoritative transmission (who told the story), reinforcing that dharma-teachings come through recognized lineages of narration.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita with a light touch of Vaṃśa/Manvantara association only insofar as Śrāddhadeva evokes Manu traditions; the immediate function is narrative-ethical.

What is the esoteric significance?

Serpent-nooses can symbolize vāsanā-bandhana (bondage by latent impressions): subtle ‘coils’ that lead the jīva toward its destined experience until purification is complete.