Shloka 6

Adhyaya 8 — Vasu's Redemption

Sanskrit

तं दृष्ट्वा समनुप्राप्तं विनयावनतोऽभवत् । प्राह चैवाञ्जलिं कृत्वा हरिश्चन्द्रो महामुनिम् ॥

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā samanuprāptaṃ vinayāvanato 'bhavat / prāha caivāñjaliṃ kṛtvā hariścandro mahāmunim

Translation

Als er den großen Weisen kommen sah, verneigte sich Hariścandra demütig; und mit gefalteten Händen in Ehrfurcht wandte er sich an den Mahāmuni.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having seen’

• samanuprāptam: having arrived/come near
• samanuprāptam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu + pra + √āp (धातु) with sam- (उपसर्गसमूह) ; samanuprāpta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; past participle (क्त) qualifying tam

• vinaya-avanataḥ: humbly bowed
• vinaya-avanataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vinaya (प्रातिपदिक) + avanata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √nam + ava)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः: ‘bowed down with humility’

• abhavat: became
• abhavat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• prāha: said
• prāha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-अव्यय)

• añjalim: joined hands (añjali)
• añjalim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having made/done’

• hariścandraḥ: Hariścandra
• hariścandraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hariścandra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• mahā-munim: the great sage
• mahā-munim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; कर्मधारयः: ‘great sage’

Speakers

• Narrator describing Hariścandra’s action (within the ongoing story); Hariścandra then speaks to the mahāmuni

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Rājadharma (ethics of kingship)
• Humility toward sages
• Etiquette of greeting (añjali)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse foregrounds vinaya (humility) as a cardinal dharmic virtue: even a sovereign king honors spiritual authority by rising inwardly to reverence—bowing, joining palms, and speaking respectfully. It models the social-ethical ideal that power is disciplined by dharma and deference to tapas (ascetic merit) and wisdom.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse is best classified under Vaṃśānucarita (dynastic/biographical narratives and exemplary conduct of kings) rather than sarga/pratisarga/manvantara. It supports the Purāṇic function of teaching dharma through itihāsa-like royal exempla.

What is the esoteric significance?

Symbolically, the king (outer authority, rājasika power) bowing to the sage (inner authority, sattvic insight) represents the proper subordination of ego and sovereignty to higher truth. Añjali signifies the integration of dualities (two palms) into a single intention—readiness to receive instruction and align action with dharma.