Shloka 77

Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy

Devanagari script

अथ सा वेपमानाड्ी निमित्तं शीतजं तदा,थोड़ी ही देरमें वह सरदी लगनेका बहाना करके थरथर काँपती हुई आयी और महर्षिकी शय्यापर आरूढ़ हो गयी। पास आनेपर भगवान्‌ अष्टावक्रने “आइये, स्वागत है' ऐसा कहकर उसके प्रति सम्मान प्रदर्शित किया

Transliteration

atha sā vepamānāḍī nimittaṁ śītajaṁ tadā |

Translation

Then she, trembling, used the pretext of a chill as her excuse. Soon she came shivering, mounted the sage’s couch, and on her approach the venerable Aṣṭāvakra—addressing her with “Come, welcome”—showed her due courtesy.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• सा: she
• सा: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• वेपमाना: trembling
• वेपमाना: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेप्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle)

• निमित्तम्: a pretext, cause
• निमित्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निमित्त
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• शीतजम्: arising from cold
• शीतजम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीतज
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तदा: at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

Speaker

सअद्टावक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Aṣṭāvakra
• the woman (unnamed)
• the sage’s couch/bed (śayyā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when another person’s motives are questionable, one should uphold dharmic decorum—courtesy, restraint, and propriety—without being driven by impulse. The sage’s respectful welcome models disciplined conduct amid moral complexity.

What is happening in the narrative?

A woman approaches while shivering, claiming cold as the reason, and climbs onto the sage’s couch. Aṣṭāvakra receives her politely, greeting her with words of welcome and showing formal respect.