Shloka 4

Adhyaya 74 — King Svarashtra, the Deer-Queen’s Curse, and the Rise of Tamasa Manu

Sanskrit

स भार्याभिस्तथायुक्तो भृत्यैश्च सहजन्मभिः ।

उद्विग्नचेताः संप्राप वीर्यहानिमहर्निशम् ॥

Transliteration

sa bhāryābhis tathāyukto bhṛtyaiś ca sahajanmabhiḥ / udvignacetāḥ saṃprāpa vīryahānim aharniśam

Translation

Though accompanied by wives and by servants born alongside him (long-time companions), he became anxious at heart and, day and night, fell into a loss of vigor.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• भार्याभिः: with wives
• भार्याभिः: Saha (सह/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयबोधक (adverb: thus/likewise)

• युक्तः: joined; accompanied
• युक्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √युज् (धातु) से क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• भृत्यैः: with servants
• भृत्यैः: Saha (सह/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• सहजन्मभिः: with those born together; kinsmen/companions
• सहजन्मभिः: Saha (सह/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहजन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; समासः सह + जन्मन् (तत्पुरुष: 'born together', i.e., companions of same birth)

• उद्विग्नचेताः: anxious; disturbed in mind
• उद्विग्नचेताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्विग्न + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः उद्विग्न (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त) + चेतस् (कर्मधारय: 'agitated-minded')

• संप्राप: attained; met with
• संप्राप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आप् (धातु) + सम्- (उपसर्ग) + प्र- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वीर्यहानिम्: loss of strength/valor
• वीर्यहानिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य + हानि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; समासः वीर्यस्य हानिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अहर्निशम्: day and night; continually
• अहर्निशम्: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहर्निश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययीभाव-समासः अहः + निशा (meaning: 'day and night', adverbial)

Speakers

• Mārkaṇḍeya (narrator)

Key Themes

• Aging and decline
• Anxiety and existential unrest
• Attachment and dissatisfaction
• Prelude to renunciation

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Worldly companionship does not guarantee inner stability. The verse depicts the psychological truth that decline (aging, loss of power) can trigger udvega (agitation), pushing one toward deeper meaning beyond status.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Vaṃśānucarita with didactic intent: royal life is used to teach the inevitability of decline under kāla.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Loss of vīrya’ can be read as prāṇic depletion: when outward identity weakens, the narrative prepares for tapas as a re-centering of energy inward.