Shloka 93

Devanagari script

वार्थकेन च राजेन्द्र तपसा चैव कर्शिता । राजेन्द्र! परिश्रमसे थक जानेपर भी वह अपने-आपको कृतार्थ मानती रही। धीरे-धीरे बुढ़ापा और तपस्याने उसे दुर्बल बना दिया

Transliteration

vārthakena ca rājendra tapasā caiva karśitā |

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “O king, she was worn down both by advancing age and by austerity. Even while growing weary from constant exertion, she continued to regard herself as fulfilled; in time, old age and ascetic practice left her physically weakened.”

Word by Word

• वृद्धकेन: by old age
• वृद्धकेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

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

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

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

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• कर्शिता: emaciated/weakened
• कर्शिता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृश् (धातु) → कर्शित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• rājendra (addressed king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical ideal of steadfastness: one may pursue tapas and duty with inner contentment, yet the body remains subject to decline. It implicitly balances spiritual resolve with recognition of human limitation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes a woman’s condition to the king: she has continued her austere practice and effort, feeling inwardly accomplished, but over time age and ascetic hardship have made her physically weak.