Shloka 54

Aṣṭāvakra’s Visit to Kubera: Hospitality, Temptation, and the Ethics of Restraint (अष्टावक्र-वैश्रवणोपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा जनन्या वचन निराशो गुरुदर्शने

Transliteration

śrutvā jananyā vacanaṁ nirāśo gurudarśane

Translation

Hearing his mother’s words, Gālava grew disheartened, losing hope of gaining an audience with his teacher.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि, —, —, —

• जनन्याः: of (his) mother
• जनन्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• वचनम्: speech; words
• वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• निराशः: hopeless; despondent
• निराशः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गुरुदर्शने: in/at the seeing of the teacher (guru)
• गुरुदर्शने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरुदर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

गालव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• गालव (Galava)
• जननी (mother)
• गुरु (teacher)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension between discouragement and duty: a seeker may face emotional setbacks from circumstances or advice, yet the dharmic ideal is to regain steadiness and continue pursuing rightful aims—especially in matters connected to the guru and learning.

What is happening in the narrative?

Galava reports that after hearing his mother’s statement, he becomes despondent and feels he may not be able to meet or approach his guru, indicating a moment of doubt or obstruction in his effort to seek the teacher’s audience.