Shloka 17

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच तस्माद्‌ देशादतिक्रान्ते ज्वलने जरिता पुन: । जगाम पुत्रकानेव त्वरिता पुत्रगृद्धिनी,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जब अग्निदेव उस स्थानसे हट गये, तब पुत्रोंकी लालसा रखनेवाली जरिता पुनः शीघ्रतापूर्वक अपने बच्चोंके पास गयी

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | tasmād deśād atikrānte jvalane jaritā punaḥ | jagāma putrakān eva tvaritā putragṛddhinī ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: When Agni had moved on from that place, Jaritā—driven by longing for her sons—hurried back again to her little children, as a mother rushing to her offspring.

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaishampayana

उवाचsaid

तस्मात्from that

देशात्from the place

अतिक्रान्तेwhen (he) had passed beyond / after departing

ज्वलनेwhen Jvalana (Agni) (was gone)

जरिताJarita (the bird)

पुनःagain

जगामwent

पुत्रकान्to (her) little sons / children

इवas if / like

त्वरिताhastened

पुत्रगृद्धिनीdesirous of (her) sons

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Agni (Jvalana)

Jaritā

Jaritā's children (putrakāḥ)

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?

The verse highlights the dharmic impulse of parental responsibility: when danger recedes, a caregiver’s foremost duty is to return swiftly to protect and nurture the vulnerable.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Agni (the fire) has moved away from the location, Jaritā—anxious for her offspring—rushes back to her children, emphasizing urgency and maternal concern.