Shloka 57

भरतचरितम्—मृगासक्ति-हेतुकः समाधिभङ्गः, जातिस्मरत्वं, रहूगण-जाḍभरत-संवादः

Devanagari script

किं श्रान्तो ऽस्य् अल्पम् अध्वानं त्वयोढा शिबिका मम किम् आयाससहो न त्वं पीवान् असि निरीक्ष्यसे

Transliteration

kiṃ śrānto 'sy alpam adhvānaṃ tvayoḍhā śibikā mama kim āyāsasaho na tvaṃ pīvān asi nirīkṣyase

Translation

“Why are you weary? The distance is small, and it is you who bear my palanquin. Are you not one who can endure exertion? You appear stout and strong—so why do you seem exhausted?”

Word by Word

• किम्: is (he) …? / what?
• किम्: Prashna (Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रश्न-निपातः = interrogative particle (‘is it that…?’)

• श्रान्तः: tired
• श्रान्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणं (अयम्/सः) प्रति = Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• असि: are
• असि: Kriyā (Copula)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन = Present, 2nd person singular

• अल्पम्: little/short
• अल्पम्: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणं अध्वानम् प्रति = Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अध्वानम्: journey/road
• अध्वानम्: Karma (Object/extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन = Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (आदरार्थे), तृतीया, एकवचन = Instrumental, Singular (pronoun ‘by you’)

• ऊढा: carried/borne
• ऊढा: Kriyā (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (भूतकृदन्त/PPP) = past passive participle; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शिबिका सह = Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• शिबिका: the palanquin
• शिबिका: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिबिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन = Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन = Genitive, Singular (pronoun)

• किम्: is it that…?
• किम्: Prashna
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रश्न-निपातः = interrogative particle

• आयास-सहः: able to endure exertion
• आयास-सहः: Viśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयास (प्रातिपदिक) + सह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (आयासं सहते इति/आयासस्य सहः) = determinative; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; त्वम् प्रति = Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निषेध-निपात) = negation particle

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन = Nominative, Singular (2nd person pronoun)

• पीवान्: stout/fat
• पीवान्: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणं त्वम् प्रति = Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• असि: are
• असि: Kriyā (Copula)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन = Present, 2nd person singular

• निरीक्ष्यसे: are seen/appear
• निरीक्ष्यसे: Kriyā (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन = Present, passive, 2nd singular

Speaker

A king/noble passenger addressing the palanquin-bearer (within the dynastic narrative relayed by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Rahūgaṇa’s misunderstanding of fatigue and embodiment, provoking the non-dual (self/body) clarification.

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pride rooted in bodily identification leads one to misread others’ states and to speak harshly without discernment.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Notice when you assume others ‘should’ perform based on appearances; practice humility and inquire before judging.

Vishishtadvaita: Implied: the jīva is distinct from the body and accountable under dharma; true vision honors the indwelling Lord in all beings (to be made explicit in Bharata’s reply).

Characters & Entities

• King (unnamed in this verse)
• Palanquin-bearer (unnamed in this verse)

FAQs

What is the significance of this palanquin dialogue in the Vishnu Purana?

It sets up a moral and philosophical turn within a royal episode—outward strength and social role are questioned, preparing the ground for deeper teaching about endurance, duty, and insight.

How does Sage Parāśara explain dharma through such narrative exchanges?

Parāśara often embeds instruction in dynastic stories: a seemingly ordinary conversation reveals tensions between status and responsibility, prompting reflection that later clarifies dharma and right understanding.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in a given verse, Book 4’s histories are presented as part of Vishnu’s ordered sovereignty over time—kingship, conduct, and consequence unfold within the divine governance of dharma established by Vishnu.