Shloka 12
Uttaṅka’s Petition for Madayantī’s Divine Earrings (Maṇikuṇḍala) — Agreement, Proof, and Vigilance
जग्राहाश्रूणि सुश्रोणी करेण पृथुलोचना । पितुर्नियोगाद् धर्मज्ञा शिरसावनता तदा
jagrāhāśrūṇi suśroṇī kareṇa pṛthulocanā | piturniyogād dharmajñā śirasāvanatā tadā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then the noble woman—slender-waisted and large-eyed—wiped away her tears with her hand. Knowing what dharma required, and acting under her father’s command, she bowed her head in submission.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as disciplined conduct: even amid grief, one restrains emotion and accepts rightful instruction—here, the father’s directive—expressed through humility (bowing the head).
A woman, described as graceful and large-eyed, wipes her tears and, following her father’s command, lowers her head—signaling acceptance, deference, and readiness to act according to dharma.