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Shloka 94

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

न भ्रातृनू न च भर्तारें न च पुत्रान्‌ न देवरान्‌ । लीलायन्त्य: कुलं घ्नन्ति कूलानीव सरिद्वरा: । दोषान्‌ सर्वाश्न मत्वा55शु प्रजापतिरभाषत

na bhrātṝnū na ca bhartāraṁ na ca putrān na devarān | līlāyantyaḥ kulaṁ ghnanti kūlānīva saridvarāḥ | doṣān sarvāśn matvāśu prajāpatir abhāṣata ||

“They spare neither brothers nor husbands, neither sons nor brothers-in-law. Sporting as it were, they destroy a family—just as a mighty river erodes its banks. Recognizing these faults in full, Prajāpati spoke at once.”

not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
भ्रातॄन्brothers
भ्रातॄन्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभ्रातृ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
नूनम्indeed, surely
नूनम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनूनम्
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
भर्तॄन्husbands
भर्तॄन्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभर्तृ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
पुत्रान्sons
पुत्रान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्र
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
देवरान्brothers-in-law (husband's younger brothers)
देवरान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदेवर
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
लीलायन्त्यःsporting/playing (as if in play)
लीलायन्त्यः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootलीलायन्ती
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural, Present active participle (śatṛ), from denom. verb लीलायति
कुलम्family, lineage
कुलम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकुल
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
घ्नन्तिthey kill/destroy
घ्नन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
कूलानिbanks (river-banks)
कूलानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकूल
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
इवlike, as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
सरित्river
सरित्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसरित्
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
वराःexcellent, mighty
वराः:
TypeAdjective
Rootवर
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
दोषान्faults, defects
दोषान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदोष
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
सर्वान्all
सर्वान्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
मत्वाhaving considered/knowing
मत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootमन्
FormAbsolutive (क्त्वा), Active
आशुquickly
आशु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootआशु
प्रजापतिःPrajāpati (Lord of creatures)
प्रजापतिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजापति
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अभाषतspoke
अभाषत:
TypeVerb
Rootभाष्
FormAorist (luṅ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

अष्टावक्र उवाच

A
Aṣṭāvakra
P
Prajāpati
B
brothers
H
husbands
S
sons
B
brothers-in-law
F
family/lineage
R
river
R
riverbanks

Educational Q&A

Unchecked misconduct—portrayed as heedless ‘play’—can ruin an entire lineage, harming even the closest relations; therefore one should recognize such doṣas early and restrain them to protect dharma and family stability.

Aṣṭāvakra describes how destructive tendencies can sweep through a household, likening them to a strong river cutting away its banks; seeing these faults clearly, Prajāpati is said to respond immediately with instruction.