Shloka 81

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

Devanagari script

कामेन मोहिता चाहं त्वां भजन्तीं भजस्व माम्‌ | प्रह्द्ो भव विप्रर्षे समागच्छ मया सह

Transliteration

kāmena mohitā cāhaṃ tvāṃ bhajantīṃ bhajasva mām | prahṛṣṭo bhava viprarṣe samāgaccha mayā saha ||

Translation

Overcome by desire, I too am deluded. Since you are devoted to me, be devoted to me in return. O brahmin-seer, be joyful and come together with me.

Word by Word

• कामेन: by desire/lust
• कामेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• मोहिता: deluded/infatuated
• मोहिता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुह्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भजन्तीम्: worshipping/serving (me)
• भजन्तीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भज्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• भजस्व: worship/serve (you should worship)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Atmanepada

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रह्लादः: Prahlāda (proper name)
• प्रह्लादः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रह्लाद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भव: be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• विप्रर्षे: O brahmarṣi / O best of brahmins
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्रर्षि
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• समागच्छ: come together/come (to me)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-गम्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मया: with me/by me
• मया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह

Speaker

सअद्टावक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Aṣṭāvakra (speaker)
• viprarṣi (a brahmin-seer, addressed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds how kāma (desire) can cloud discernment and push one toward ethically risky reciprocity—inviting attachment simply because the other is attached. It implicitly warns that being 'mohita' (deluded) by passion can invert proper judgment, making consent and restraint central ethical concerns.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker confesses being overcome by desire and urges the addressed brahmin-seer to reciprocate devotion/attachment and to come together with him. The line functions as a direct solicitation framed in the language of mutual 'bhajana' (devoted attachment).