Shloka 21

Devanagari script

दुर्व्याह्वताच्छड्कमाना दुःस्थितादू दुरवेक्षितात्‌ । दुरासिताद्‌ दुर्वजितादिद्धिताध्यासितादपि,“कभी मेरे मुखसे कोई बुरी बात न निकल जाय, इसकी आशंकासे सदा सावधान रहती हूँ। असभ्यकी भाँति कहीं खड़ी नहीं होती। निर्लज्जकी तरह सब ओर दृष्टि नहीं डालती। बुरी जगहपर नहीं बैठती। दुराचारसे बचती तथा चलने-फिरनेमें भी असभ्यता न हो जाय, इसके लिये सतत सावधान रहती हूँ। पतियोंके अभिप्रायपूर्ण संकेतका सदैव अनुसरण करती हूँ

Transliteration

durvyāhṛtāc chaṅkamānā duḥsthitād duravekṣitāt | durāsitād durvajitād iddhitādhyāsitād api ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “Fearing that some ill-spoken word might slip from my mouth, I remain constantly vigilant. I do not stand about in an uncouth manner; I do not cast shameless glances in all directions. I do not sit in improper places; I avoid misconduct; and even in my walking and moving about I stay alert lest any breach of decorum occur. I always follow the meaningful signs and intentions of my husbands.”

Word by Word

दुर्badly, improperly

व्याह्वतात्from improper calling/addressing

छड्कमानाavoiding/guarding against (reading uncertain)

दुःbadly, with difficulty

स्थितात्from improper standing/position

दुर्badly, improperly

अवेक्षितात्from improper looking/gazing

दुर्badly, improperly

आसितात्from improper sitting

दुर्badly, improperly

वजितात्from improper conduct/avoidance (reading uncertain)

इद्धितfrom being kindled/raised (reading uncertain in context)

अध्यासितात्from improper occupying/sitting upon

अपिalso, even

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

husbands (pati)

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 emphasizes vigilant self-discipline: guarding one’s speech, posture, gaze, seating, and movement so that one’s outward behavior aligns with propriety (sadācāra) and does not slip into indecorum.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a woman (contextually, a wife speaking of her conduct) describes her careful observance of decorum—avoiding improper speech and behavior—and her attentiveness to the intentions and signals of her husbands.