Shloka 5

Āraṇyaka Parva, Adhyāya 116: Jamadagni–Reṇukā Narrative and the Kārtavīrya Conflict

Akṛtavraṇa’s Account

Devanagari script

फलाहारेषु सर्वेषु गतेष्वथ सुतेषु वै । रेणुका सनातुमगमत्‌ कदाचिन्नियतव्रता,एक दिन जब सब पुत्र फल लानेके लिये वनमें चले गये तब नियमपूर्वक उत्तम व्रतका पालन करनेवाली रेणुका स्नान करनेके लिये नदी-तटपर गयी

Transliteration

phalāhāreṣu sarveṣu gateṣv atha suteṣu vai | reṇukā sanātum agamat kadācin niyatavratā ||

Translation

When all her sons had gone out to the forest to gather fruits for their sustenance, Reṇukā—steadfast in her vowed discipline—went at a certain time to the riverbank to bathe. The scene underscores the quiet strength of dharma in daily conduct: even amid household responsibilities, she maintains purity, restraint, and regular observance.

Word by Word

• फलाहारेषु: in (the matter of) fruit-gatherings / fruit-food (acts)
• फलाहारेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: फलाहार
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• सर्वेषु: in all
• सर्वेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• गतेषु: having gone
• गतेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• सुतेषु: when the sons (were)
• सुतेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• रेणुका: Renuka
• रेणुका: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेणुका
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सनातुम्: to bathe
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for infinitive)

• अगमत्: went
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कदाचित्: once / at some time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित्

• नियतव्रता: one observing a regulated vow
• नियतव्रता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियतव्रत
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

अकृतव्रण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• अकृतव्रण (Akṛtavraṇa)
• रेणुका (Reṇukā)
• पुत्र/सुत (sons)
• वन (forest)
• नदी-तट (riverbank)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma expressed through disciplined routine: Reṇukā maintains regulated vows and purity practices (such as bathing) alongside family duties, suggesting that ethical steadiness is sustained through everyday observances.

What is happening in the narrative?

All the sons have gone to the forest to collect fruits; during their absence, Reṇukā, described as devoted to regulated vows, goes to the riverbank to bathe.