Shloka 16

Devanagari script

तथा तु नियतात्मानं त॑ नृपं मुनिसत्तम: | आबभाषे स धर्मात्मा तस्यैवार्थचिकीर्षया,इस प्रकार मन और इन्द्रियोंको संयममें रखकर तपस्यामें लगे हुए उक्त नरेशसे धर्मात्मा मुनिवर वसिष्ठने उन्हींकी कार्यसिद्धिके लिये कुछ बातचीत की

Transliteration

tathā tu niyatātmānaṃ taṃ nṛpaṃ munisattamaḥ | ābabhāṣe sa dharmātmā tasyaivārthacikīrṣayā ||

Translation

Seeing the king steadfast in self-restraint—his mind and senses disciplined and his austerity firmly undertaken—the foremost of sages, the righteous Vasiṣṭha, addressed him, intent only on helping him accomplish his rightful purpose.

Word by Word

तथाthus, in that manner

तुbut, indeed

नियतात्मानम्self-controlled (one)

तम्that (him)

नृपम्king

मुनिसत्तमःbest of sages

आबभाषेspoke, addressed

सःhe

धर्मात्माrighteous-souled

तस्यof him

एवindeed, just

अर्थचिकीर्षयाwith the desire to accomplish (his) purpose

Speaker

गन्धर्व उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vasiṣṭha

the king (nṛpa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is advanced through disciplined self-control (niyama) and the timely guidance of the wise; a sage’s speech is meant to aid rightful aims, not merely to display learning.

What is happening in the narrative?

A king is engaged in austerity with controlled mind and senses. Vasiṣṭha, described as righteous and foremost among sages, addresses him in order to help him achieve his intended objective.