Shloka 8
Yayāti’s Request for Youth: Sons’ Refusals and Pūru’s Acceptance (ययातेः यौवन-विनिमयः)
देवयान्युवाच वेदाहं तात बालापि धर्माणां यदिहान्तरम् । अक्रोधे चातिवादे च वेद चापि बलाबलम्,देवयानीने कहा--पिताजी! यद्यपि मैं अभी बालिका हूँ फिर भी धर्म-अधर्मका अन्तर समझती हूँ। क्षमा और निन्दाकी सबलता और निर्बलताका भी मुझे ज्ञान है
devayāny uvāca: vedāhaṃ tāta bālāpi dharmāṇāṃ yad ihāntaram | akrodhe cātivāde ca veda cāpi balābalam ||
Devayānī said: “Father, though I am still a young girl, I understand the distinction between dharma and adharma in this matter. I also know the strength and weakness of forbearance (freedom from anger) and of harsh, excessive speech.”
शुक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moral maturity is shown by discernment: knowing the boundary between dharma and adharma, and understanding when patience (akrodha) is truly strong versus when harsh or excessive speech (ativāda) becomes a weakness that worsens conflict.
Devayānī addresses her father (Śukra), asserting that despite her youth she can judge right and wrong in the present dispute and can evaluate the consequences of responding with restraint versus responding with angry, excessive words.