Shloka 16

Aṣṭāvakra and the Woman: Disclosure, Permission, and Marital Resolution (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय २२)

Devanagari script

अद्टावक्र उवाच हरन्ति दोषजातानि नरं जात॑ यथेच्छकम्‌ | प्रभवामि सदा धृत्या भद्रे स्वशयनं व्रज,अष्टावक्रने कहा--भटद्रे! स्वेच्छाचारी मनुष्यको ही सब प्रकारके पापसमूह अपनी ओर खींचते हैं। मैं धैर्यके द्वारा सदा अपने मनको काबूमें रखता हूँ; अतः तुम अपनी शय्यापर लौट जाओ

Transliteration

aṣṭāvakra uvāca | haranti doṣajātāni naraṃ jātaṃ yathecchakam | prabhavāmi sadā dhṛtyā bhadre svaśayanaṃ vraja |

Translation

Aṣṭāvakra said: “Clusters of faults and sins seize and carry off a man who lives by mere whim. I, however, always master myself through steadfast self-control. Therefore, noble lady, return to your own bed.”

Word by Word

अष्टावक्रःAshtavakra

उवाचsaid

हरन्तिcarry off / draw (towards themselves)

दोषजातानिclusters/collections of faults (sins)

नरम्a man

जातम्born / become

यथाas / just as

इच्छकम्desirous; acting by his own will

प्रभवामिI am able / I prevail (over myself)

सदाalways

धृत्याby firmness / by steadiness

भद्रेO auspicious lady / O good one

स्वशयनम्your own bed

व्रजgo

Speaker

अद्टावक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

Aṣṭāvakra

bhadre (a noble lady, unnamed)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Unrestrained, whim-driven living invites moral faults and sinful tendencies; steadfast dhṛti (firm self-control) protects one’s conduct and keeps the mind governed.

What is happening in the narrative?

Aṣṭāvakra addresses a woman respectfully, warns that indulgence in mere desire leads to wrongdoing, asserts his own restraint through fortitude, and instructs her to return to her proper place (her bed).