Shloka 12

Devanagari script

व्यक्तं राजन्यतनयां वेद्‍म्यहं त्वां सुमध्यमे । न हि चेत: पौरवाणामधर्मे रमते क्‍वचित् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

vyaktaṁ rājanya-tanayāṁ vedmy ahaṁ tvāṁ sumadhyame na hi cetaḥ pauravāṇām adharme ramate kvacit

Translation

O slender-waisted beauty, it is clear to me that you are the daughter of a kṣatriya. I am of the Pūru dynasty; my mind never delights in adharma.

Synonyms

• vyaktam: clearly/manifestly
• vyaktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyakta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √vyaj/√vac? 'to manifest'—past passive participle used adjectivally)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/2nd), Ekavacana; kṛdanta (kta) used as viśeṣaṇa/adverbial sense

• rājanya-tanayām: the daughter of a kṣatriya
• rājanya-tanayām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājanya (प्रातिपदिक) + tanayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa) ‘rājanyasya tanayā’

• vedmi: I know
• vedmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Parasmaipada, Uttama-puruṣa (1st person), Ekavacana

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma; Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• sumadhyame: O slender-waisted one
• sumadhyame: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + madhyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya ‘su-madhyamā’ (one with a beautiful waist)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta; emphasis/indeed (निपात)

• cetaḥ: the mind/heart
• cetaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• pauravāṇām: of the Pauravas
• pauravāṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paurava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Bahuvacana

• adharme: in unrighteousness
• adharme: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Saptamī (7th), Ekavacana

• ramate: delights
• ramate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ram (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Ātmanepada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana

• kvacit: ever/at any time
• kvacit: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of time/place ‘ever/anywhere’ (काल/देश-अव्यय)

Purport

Mahārāja Duṣmanta indirectly expressed his desire to marry Śakuntalā, for she appeared to his mind to be the daughter of some kṣatriya king.

Characters & Entities

• King Yayāti
• Śarmiṣṭhā

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 9.20.12 say about dharma in the Paurava dynasty?

It states that the consciousness of the Pauravas does not take pleasure in adharma, emphasizing a hereditary commitment to righteousness and noble conduct.

Why did King Yayāti say he knew she was a princess?

From her refined demeanor and character, Yayāti infers royal upbringing; he then links this to the Pauravas’ own standard of dharma, framing the encounter in terms of honor and righteousness.

How can this verse be applied in modern life?

It teaches that true nobility is shown by consistent integrity—one’s mind should not relish unethical choices, regardless of opportunity or secrecy.