Shloka 16

ययाति–देवयानी संवादः

Yayāti–Devayānī Dialogue and Śukra’s Consent

Devanagari script

शीलदाक्षिण्यमाधुर्यराचारेण दमेन च । देवयान्यां हि तुष्टायां विद्यां तां प्राप्स्यसि ध्रुवम्‌,“अपने शील-स्वभाव, उदारता, मधुर व्यवहार, सदाचार तथा इन्द्रियसंयमद्वारा देवयानीको संतुष्ट कर लेनेपर आप निश्चय ही उस विद्याको प्राप्त कर लेंगे”

Transliteration

śīla-dākṣiṇya-mādhuryair ācāreṇa damena ca | devayānyāṃ hi tuṣṭāyāṃ vidyāṃ tāṃ prāpsyasi dhruvam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “By your good character, generosity, gentle sweetness of conduct, proper discipline of life, and self-restraint—if Devayānī is truly pleased—you will certainly obtain that knowledge.”

Word by Word

शीलby good conduct/character

दाक्षिण्यby generosity/courtesy

माधुर्यby sweetness (of speech/behavior)

आचारेणby conduct/practice

दमेनby self-control

चand

देवयान्याम्in/with regard to Devayānī

हिindeed/for

तुष्टायाम्when (she is) pleased/satisfied

विद्याम्knowledge/learning (the lore)

ताम्that

प्राप्स्यसिyou will obtain

ध्रुवम्certainly

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Devayānī

vidyā (knowledge)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Knowledge is attained securely through ethical qualities—good character, generosity, gentle behavior, proper conduct, and self-restraint—especially by winning the sincere goodwill of the person who bestows or mediates that knowledge.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana states that if Devayānī is pleased by one’s virtuous conduct and self-control, the seeker will certainly receive the intended vidyā, indicating that access to instruction depends on moral comportment and relational trust.