Shloka 14
The Pracetās Meet Lord Viṣṇu—Benedictions, Pure Prayer, and the Birth of Dakṣa
क्षुत्क्षामाया मुखे राजा सोम: पीयूषवर्षिणीम् । देशिनीं रोदमानाया निदधे स दयान्वित: ॥ १४ ॥
kṣut-kṣāmāyā mukhe rājā somaḥ pīyūṣa-varṣiṇīm deśinīṁ rodamānāyā nidadhe sa dayānvitaḥ
Then the child left in the trees’ care began to cry from hunger. The king of the forest—the Moon-god—moved by compassion, placed his nectar-flowing finger in her mouth; thus she was nourished by the mercy of the lunar king.
Although the Apsarā left her child to the care of the trees, the trees could not take care of the child properly; therefore the trees handed the child over to the king of the moon. Thus Candra, king of the moon, put his finger within the mouth of the child to satisfy her hunger.
FAQs
This verse highlights dayā (compassion) as a noble virtue: King Soma, moved by mercy, directly relieves the suffering of one crying from hunger by giving life-sustaining nourishment described as “nectar-raining.”
Because he was dayānvitaḥ—filled with compassion—he responded to her visible suffering (hunger, emaciation, tears) by giving immediate relief, modeling righteous conduct.
Practice practical mercy: notice real need, respond promptly, and offer tangible help (food, care, support) with a compassionate heart rather than indifference.