Shloka 1.63.4

विश्वामित्रस्य तपोविघ्नः, मेनकाप्रसङ्गः, महर्षिपदप्रदानम् (Visvamitra’s Austerity Obstructed; Menaka Episode; Conferment of Maharshi Status)

Devanagari script

तत: कालेन महता मेनका परमाऽप्सरा:।पुष्करेषु नरश्रेष्ठ स्नातुं समुपचक्रमे।।।।

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā kandarpavaśago munis tām idam abravīt | apsaraḥ svāgataṃ te 'stu vasa ceha mamāśrame || anugṛhṇīṣva bhadraṃ te madanena sumohitam ||

Translation

On seeing her, the sage—overpowered by Kāma—spoke: “O Apsaras, welcome. Stay here in my hermitage. Be gracious to me; I am deeply deluded by desire. May you be well.”

Context

"O Foremost of men! after a long lapse of time a chief nymph called Menaka came to bathe at Pushkara.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Menakā
• Kandarpa
• Madana
• Āśrama (hermitage)

FAQs

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

Dharma requires mastery over desire: even a sage can falter when the mind yields to passion, showing that ethical strength depends on inner discipline (saṃyama).

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra, stirred by desire on seeing Menakā, invites her to stay and openly admits his infatuation.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

A cautionary contrast: the virtue needed is restraint, but the verse portrays a lapse—illustrating how quickly tapas can be undermined by kāma.