Shloka 14

मैत्रेय उवाच मातु: सपत्‍न्या: स दुरुक्तिविद्ध: श्वसन् रुषा दण्डहतो यथाहि: । हित्वा मिषन्तं पितरं सन्नवाचं जगाम मातु: प्ररुदन् सकाशम् ॥ १४ ॥

maitreya uvāca mātuḥ sapatnyāḥ sa durukti-viddhaḥ śvasan ruṣā daṇḍa-hato yathāhiḥ hitvā miṣantaṁ pitaraṁ sanna-vācaṁ jagāma mātuḥ prarudan sakāśam

Maitreya said: Struck by his stepmother’s harsh words, Dhruva, burning with anger, breathed heavily like a snake beaten with a stick. Seeing his father silent and offering no protest, he at once left the palace and went, weeping, to his mother.

maitreyaḥMaitreya
maitreyaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmaitreya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संबोधन-रूपेण वक्ता-निर्देशः
uvācasaid
uvāca:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
mātuḥof (his) mother
mātuḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootmātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
sapatnyāḥof the co-wife
sapatnyāḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootsapatnī (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
saḥhe
saḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
durukti-viddhaḥpierced by harsh words
durukti-viddhaḥ:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdurukti (प्रातिपदिक) + viddha (कृदन्त; √vyadh/vidh ‘to pierce’)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/क्तवत्-भाव), ‘दुरुक्त्या विद्धः’ इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः
śvasanbreathing heavily
śvasan:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootśvas (धातु)
Formवर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘श्वसन्’ = breathing/heaving
ruṣāwith anger
ruṣā:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootruṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन
daṇḍa-hataḥstruck by a stick
daṇḍa-hataḥ:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + hata (कृदन्त; √han धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘दण्डेन हतः’ इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः
yathāas/like
yathā:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyathā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; उपमा/तुलना-वाचक (comparative)
ahiḥa snake
ahiḥ:
Upamana (उपमान)
TypeNoun
Rootahi (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
hitvāhaving left
hitvā:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Roothā (धातु)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भाव (Gerund), ‘having abandoned’
miṣantamlooking on (silently)
miṣantam:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootmiṣat (कृदन्त; √miṣ धातु ‘to wink/look’)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ)
pitaram(his) father
pitaram:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
sanna-vācamsilent / not speaking
sanna-vācam:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsanna (प्रातिपदिक) + vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘सन्ना (मन्द/निःशब्दा) वाक् यस्य’ इति; अर्थतः ‘मौन/अल्पभाषी’
jagāmawent
jagāma:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootgam (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
mātuḥof (his) mother
mātuḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootmātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
prarudancrying
prarudan:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootrud (धातु)
Formवर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘प्र-रुदन्’ = crying loudly
sakāśamto the presence/near
sakāśam:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsakāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय; ‘निकटम्/समीपम्’ अर्थे (adverbial of place)
M
Maitreya
D
Dhruva
S
Suniti
U
Uttama
D
Dhruva's father (King Uttanapada)

FAQs

This verse shows that cruel speech can deeply wound the heart, yet it can also become the turning point that pushes one toward higher purpose—Dhruva’s pain becomes the catalyst for his spiritual quest.

After being pierced by the co-wife’s harsh words, Dhruva saw his father remain silent and only watch; feeling unprotected and hurt, he sought shelter with his mother, Suniti.

When faced with humiliation, seek wise support instead of reacting destructively; channel the emotional shock into self-improvement and spiritual grounding rather than revenge.