Shloka 27

ययाति–शक्रसंवादः

Speech-Ethics and Forbearance in the Celestial Court

Devanagari script

प्रजज्ञे च ततः काले राजन्‌ राजीवलोचना । कुमारं देवगर्भाभं राजीवनिभलोचनम्‌,जनमेजय! तदनन्तर समय आनेपर कमलके समान नेत्रोंवाली शर्मिष्ठाने देवबालक- जैसे सुन्दर एक कमलनयन कुमारको उत्पन्न किया

Transliteration

prajajñe ca tataḥ kāle rājan rājīvalocanā | kumāraṃ devagarbhābhaṃ rājīvanibhalocanam, janamejaya |

Translation

Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Luego, llegado el tiempo, oh rey Janamejaya, Śarmiṣṭhā, de ojos de loto, dio a luz un hijo: resplandeciente como nacido de los dioses, con ojos semejantes a lotos.

Word by Word

प्रजज्ञेwas born / was produced

चand

ततःthen / thereafter

कालेat the time

राजन्O king

राजीव-लोचनाshe whose eyes are like lotuses

कुमारम्a boy / son

देव-गर्भ-आभम्having the splendor/appearance of a divine embryo (i.e., godlike)

राजीव-निभ-लोचनम्having eyes like lotuses

जनमेजयO Janamejaya

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Janamejaya

Śarmiṣṭhā

the newborn son (unnamed here)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the traditional markers of auspicious birth and beauty, while setting up later ethical tensions in the epic: noble appearance and celebrated birth do not automatically resolve questions of dharma, legitimacy, and responsibility that arise from one’s circumstances.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana, narrating to King Janamejaya, states that at that time Śarmiṣṭhā gave birth to a son described as godlike and lotus-eyed, marking an important moment in the unfolding genealogy and future conflicts.