Shloka 17

Devanagari script

स तथा प्रवदन्‌ क्रोधात्‌ तैश्न प्रेष्यै: प्रभाषित: । तूष्णीं जगाम ब्रद्य॒र्षिवनमेव महातपा:,उनके ऐसा कहनेपर भी राजाके सेवकोंने उन्हें क्रोधपूर्वक फटकार दिया। तब वे महातपस्वी ब्रह्मर्षि चुपचाप वनको ही चले गये

Transliteration

sa tathā pravadān krodhāt taiś ca preṣyaiḥ prabhāṣitaḥ | tūṣṇīṁ jagāma brahmarṣir vanam eva mahātapāḥ ||

Translation

Even as he spoke thus, the king’s attendants, seized by anger, answered him with harsh words. The great ascetic Brahmarṣi, choosing restraint over retaliation, fell silent and departed again for the forest—showing that dignity and self-control are higher than returning insult for insult.

Word by Word

सःhe

तथाthus, in that manner

प्रवदन्speaking, saying

क्रोधात्from anger, out of anger

तेनby him/thereby

प्रेष्यैःby the servants, by the messengers

प्रभाषितःaddressed, spoken to

तूष्णीम्silently

जगामwent

ब्रह्मर्षि-वनम्the forest (of/for) the brahmarshi

एवindeed, only

महातपाःthe great ascetic (one of great austerity)

Speaker

लोगश उवाच

Characters & Entities

brahmarṣi (great sage)

rājā (king, implied)

preṣya (king’s attendants/servants)

vana (forest)

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?

The verse highlights kṣamā (forbearance) and dama (self-restraint): when met with angry, disrespectful speech, the true ascetic does not escalate conflict but maintains silence and withdraws, preserving dharma and inner composure.

What is happening in the narrative?

A great sage speaks, but the king’s attendants respond harshly in anger. Rather than arguing or retaliating, the sage becomes silent and returns to the forest, emphasizing the ascetic’s detachment from worldly affronts.