Shloka 17
Adhyāya 71: Kaca and the Saṃjīvanī-vidyā
Devayānī–Śukra Episode
कथं त्वं तस्य दुहिता सम्भूता वरवर्णिनी । संशयो मे महानत्र तन्मे छेत्तुमिहाहसि,ऐसी दशामें तुम-जैसी सुन्दरी देवी उनकी पुत्री कैसे हो सकती है? इस विषयमें मुझे बड़ा भारी संदेह हो रहा है। मेरे इस संदेहका निवारण तुम्हीं कर सकती हो
kathaṁ tvaṁ tasya duhitā sambhūtā varavarṇinī | saṁśayo me mahān atra tan me chettum ihāhasi ||
Duṣyanta said: “How could you—so exquisitely beautiful—have been born as his daughter? A great doubt has arisen in me about this matter; you alone are able to cut through it here and now.”
दुष्यन्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical demand for clarity in matters of lineage and social responsibility: when doubt arises about identity or parentage, it should be resolved through truthful explanation and reliable testimony rather than assumption.
King Duṣyanta addresses a beautiful woman (Śakuntalā in the surrounding episode) and expresses strong doubt about her claim of being someone’s daughter; he asks her to dispel his uncertainty by explaining her origin.