Shloka 11
Satyavatī’s Disclosure and the Summoning of Vyāsa
Niyoga for Kuru Succession
स राजा रतिससक्तव्वादुत्तमस्त्रीगुणै्त: । संवत्सरानृतून् मासान् बुबुधे न बहून् गतान्,उस दिव्य नारीके उत्तम गुणोंने उनके चित्तको चुरा लिया था; अतः वे राजा उसके साथ रति-भोगमें आसक्त हो गये। कितने ही वर्ष, ऋतु और मास व्यतीत हो गये, किंतु उसमें आसक्त होनेके कारण राजाको कुछ पता न चला
sa rājā ratisasaktavvād uttamastrīguṇaiḥ | saṃvatsarān ṛtūn māsān bubudhe na bahūn gatān ||
Vaiśampāyana said: The king, captivated by that woman’s excellent qualities, became absorbed in sensual enjoyment with her. Many years, seasons, and months passed, yet—because of his infatuation—he did not even notice how much time had gone by.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unchecked sensual attachment (rati-sakti) can overpower discernment, making even a king lose awareness of time and duty; it warns that self-control is essential for ethical governance and personal clarity.
The narrator states that the king, charmed by a woman’s superior qualities, becomes engrossed in pleasure with her; as a result, long stretches of time—years, seasons, months—pass without his noticing.