Shloka 16

Devanagari script

कथं वत्स्यथ दुर्गेषु वने ऋद्धिविनाकृता: । वीर्यसत्त्वबलोत्साहतेजोभिरकृशा: कृशा:,इस प्रकार सम्पत्तिसे वंचित होकर तुम वनके दुर्गम स्थानोंमें कैसे रह सकोगे? वीर्य, धैर्य, बल, उत्साह और तेजसे परिपुष्ट होते हुए भी तुम दुर्बल हो

Transliteration

kathaṁ vatsyatha durgeṣu vane ṛddhi-vinākṛtāḥ | vīrya-sattva-balotsāha-tejobhir akṛśāḥ kṛśāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “How will you live in the forest’s difficult, perilous tracts, stripped of prosperity? Though you are endowed with valor, steadfastness, strength, enthusiasm, and splendor, you will still be reduced to hardship and want.”

Word by Word

कथम्how?

वत्स्यथwill you live/dwell

दुर्गेषुin difficult places/fastnesses

वनेin the forest

ऋद्धि-विनाकृताःdeprived of prosperity/wealth

वीर्य-सत्त्व-बल-उत्साह-तेजोभिःby valor, fortitude, strength, enthusiasm, and splendor

अकृशाःnot emaciated; well-nourished/robust

कृशाःemaciated/weak

Speaker

वैशमग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

vana (forest)

durga (difficult/perilous regions)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that the loss of prosperity intensifies suffering and becomes a moral test: true strength is proven when one must uphold resolve and dharma amid deprivation and danger.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes the looming reality of life in harsh forest regions after being deprived of wealth—an anxious reflection on how even heroic, capable men may be brought low by exile and scarcity.