Shloka 1.10.5

ऋश्यशृङ्ग-आनयनम् (Bringing Ṛśyaśṛṅga to Aṅga and His Marriage to Śāntā)

Devanagari script

गणिकास्तत्र गच्छन्तु रूपवत्यस्स्वलङ्कृता:।प्रलोभ्य विविधोपायैरानेष्यन्तीह सत्कृता:।।।।

Transliteration

gaṇikās tatra gacchantu rūpavatyas svalāṅkṛtāḥ | pralobhya vividhopāyair āneṣyantīha satkṛtāḥ ||

Translation

Let courtesans go there—beautiful and well adorned; alluring him by various means, they will bring him here, treated with due honor.

Context

Beautiful and well-adorned courtesans, may be sent there. They will allure him by various means and honourably bring him here.

Characters & Entities

• courtesans (gaṇikāḥ)
• Ṛśyaśṛṅga (implied target of the plan)
• city/royal court (implied by “iha/here”)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

It foregrounds the ethical risk of using adharma-like means (seduction/manipulation) for a perceived public good, inviting reflection on whether ends justify means within dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

The ministers recommend dispatching attractive courtesans to entice the ascetic and escort him to the city as part of a political-religious strategy.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implicitly, the virtue is purity and restraint; the verse shows how ornamented allure can become a tool that tests or breaks ascetic discipline.