Shloka 19

Devanagari script

(अन्यथा सन्तमात्मानमन्यथा सत्सु भाषते | स पापेनावृतो मूर्ख: स्तेन आत्मापहारकः ।।) जिसका स्वरूप तो अन्य प्रकारका है, किंतु जो सत्पुरुषोंक सामने उसका अन्य प्रकारसे ही परिचय देता है, अर्थात्‌ जो पापात्मा होते हुए भी अपनेको धर्मात्मा कहता है, वह मूर्ख, पापसे आवृत, चोर एवं आत्मवंचक है। ऋषि: कश्चिदिहागम्य मम जन्माभ्यचोदयत्‌ | (ऊर्ध्वरेता यथासि त्वं कुतस्त्येयं शकुन्तला । पुत्री त्वत्त: कथं जाता सत्य मे ब्रूहि काश्यप ।।) तस्मै प्रोवाच भगवान्‌ यथा तच्छूणु पार्थिव,पृथ्वीपते! एक दिन किसी ऋषिने यहाँ आकर मेरे जन्मके सम्बन्धमें मुनिसे पूछा --'कश्यपनन्दन! आप तो ऊथ्वरेता ब्रह्मचारी हैं, फिर यह शकुन्तला कहाँसे आयी? आपसे पुत्रीका जन्म कैसे हुआ? यह मुझे सच-सच बताइये।” उस समय भगवान्‌ कण्वने उससे जो बात बतायी, वही कहती हूँ, सुनिये

Transliteration

anyathā santam ātmānam anyathā satsu bhāṣate | sa pāpenāvṛto mūrkhaḥ stena ātmāpahārakaḥ || ṛṣiḥ kaścid ihāgamya mama janmābhyacodayat | ūrdhvaretā yathāsi tvaṁ kutas tyeyaṁ śakuntalā | putrī tvattaḥ kathaṁ jātā satyaṁ me brūhi kāśyapa || tasmai provāca bhagavān yathā tac chṛṇu pārthiva | pṛthvīpate ||

Translation

One whose true nature is one thing, yet who presents himself differently before the virtuous—who, though sinful, proclaims himself righteous—such a man is a fool, veiled by sin, a thief, and a deceiver who robs his own self. Once, a certain sage came here and questioned the ascetic about my birth: “O son of Kaśyapa, you are known as an ūrdhvaretas, a celibate whose vital energy is restrained; from where, then, has this Śakuntalā come? How could a daughter be born from you? Tell me the truth, O Kaśyapa.” To him the revered Kaṇva replied as it truly was. O king, lord of the earth, hear that account.

Word by Word

अन्यथाotherwise, in a different way

सन्तम्being, existing (as)

आत्मानम्self

अन्यथाotherwise, differently

सत्सुamong the good/virtuous people

भाषतेspeaks, talks

सःhe

पापेनby sin, with sin

आवृतःcovered, enveloped

मूर्खःa fool

स्तेनःa thief

आत्माself

अपहारकःone who steals/takes away

Speaker

दुष्यन्त उवाच

Characters & Entities

Duṣyanta

Śakuntalā

Kaṇva

Kaśyapa

a certain Ṛṣi (unnamed sage)

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 condemns hypocrisy: presenting oneself as righteous while being sinful is self-deception and moral theft. Ethical integrity requires that one’s inner character and outward claims align, especially before the virtuous.

What is happening in the narrative?

Duṣyanta frames an ethical point about false self-presentation, then recounts how an unnamed sage questioned Kaṇva about Śakuntalā’s origin—since Kaṇva is described as an ūrdhvaretas (strict celibate). Duṣyanta says Kaṇva answered truthfully, and invites the king to hear that account.