Shloka 25

कल्माषपाद-शाप-कारणम्

Cause of Kalmāṣapāda’s Niyoga under a Curse

Devanagari script

वर: संवरणो राज्ञां त्वमृषीणां वरो मुने । तपती योषितां श्रेष्ठा किमन्‍न्यदपवर्जनात्‌,“मुने! संवरण राजाओंमें श्रेष्ठ हैं, आप महर्षियोंमें उत्तम हैं और तपती युवतियोंमें सर्वश्रेष्ठ है; अतः उसके दानसे श्रेष्ठ और क्या हो सकता है”

Transliteration

varaḥ saṃvaraṇo rājñāṃ tvam ṛṣīṇāṃ varo mune | tapatī yoṣitāṃ śreṣṭhā kim anyad apavarjanāt ||

Translation

Vasiṣṭha said: “Saṃvaraṇa is the foremost among kings; you, O sage, are the foremost among seers; and Tapatī is the best among maidens. What gift could be greater than granting her in marriage?”

Word by Word

वरःexcellent/best (one)

संवरणःSamvaraṇa (name of a king)

राज्ञाम्of kings

त्वम्you

ऋषीणाम्of sages

वरःbest/excellent (one)

मुनेO sage

तपतीTapatī (name of a woman)

योषिताम्of women/maidens

श्रेष्ठाthe best, most excellent

किम्what?

अन्यत्other (thing)

अपवर्जनात्than giving away/bestowal (lit. from the act of giving away)

Speaker

वसिष्ठ उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vasiṣṭha

Saṃvaraṇa

Tapatī

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?

Excellence should meet excellence: a worthy king, a worthy sage, and a worthy maiden form a fitting alliance. The verse frames marriage as a dharmic bestowal where the highest possible gift is the right match, affirmed by a respected rishi.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vasiṣṭha speaks in praise of Saṃvaraṇa, the sage addressed, and Tapatī, concluding that granting Tapatī (as a bride) is the greatest possible act—thus endorsing the proposed marriage and urging consent.