Shloka 191

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

Sanskrit

अङ्गप्रत्यङ्गसम्भूतो मनोहृदयनन्दनः ।

मया कुपित्रा हा वत्स ! विक्रीतो येन वस्तुवत् ॥

Transliteration

aṅga-pratyaṅga-sambhūto mano-hṛdaya-nandanaḥ | mayā kupitrā hā vatsa! vikrīto yena vastuvat ||

Translation

Aus meinen eigenen Gliedern und Untergliedern geboren, meinen Geist und mein Herz erfreuend—ach, mein Kind!—ich, ein böser Vater, habe dich wie einen bloßen Gegenstand verkauft.

Speakers

• The King (direct speech)

Key Themes

• Self-reproach
• Adharma of commodifying persons
• Paternal guilt