Shloka 28

Āśramadharma and the Marks of the Muni

Yayāti–Aṣṭaka Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

मम काम: स च कृत: पूरुणा मित्ररूपिणा | शुक्रेण च वरो दत्त: काव्येनोशनसा स्वयम्‌,पूरने मित्ररूप होकर मेरी कामनाएँ पूर्ण की हैं। स्वयं शुक्राचार्यने मुझे वर दिया है कि 'जो पुत्र तुम्हारा अनुसरण करे, वही राजा एवं समस्त भूमण्डलका पालक हो”। अतः मैं आपलोगोंसे विनयपूर्ण आग्रह करता हूँ कि पूरुको ही राज्यपर अभिषिक्त करें

Transliteration

mama kāmaḥ sa ca kṛtaḥ pūruṇā mitrarūpiṇā | śukreṇa ca varo dattaḥ kāvyenośanasā svayam |

Translation

Dijo Vaiśampāyana: «Mi deseo fue cumplido por Pūru, que obró bajo la apariencia de un amigo. Y Śukra —el propio Kāvya Uśanas— me concedió un don: “El hijo que siga tu mandato, sólo él será rey y protector de toda la tierra.” Por ello, os ruego con respeto a todos: ungid a Pūru para la soberanía.»

Word by Word

{'mama''my', 'kāmaḥ': 'desire

wish', 'saḥ''he

that (referring to the wish/act)', 'ca''and', 'kṛtaḥ': 'done

fulfilled', 'pūruṇā''by Pūru (instrumental singular)', 'mitrarūpiṇā': 'in the form of a friend

as a friend (instrumental singular)', 'śukreṇa''by Śukra (Śukrācārya) (instrumental singular)', 'varaḥ': 'boon

blessing', 'dattaḥ''given', 'kāvyena': 'by Kāvya (patronymic of Śukra)

by the poet-sage (instrumental singular)', 'uśanasā''by Uśanas (name of Śukra) (instrumental singular)', 'svayam': 'himself

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pūru

Śukra (Śukrācārya)

Kāvya Uśanas

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Legitimate kingship is grounded in dharma: the ruler should be the one who upholds the father’s command and the moral order. The boon from Śukra reinforces that ethical obedience and rightful conduct—not mere birth order—can determine sovereignty.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker reports that Pūru has fulfilled the king’s wish by acting loyally, and that Śukra (Kāvya Uśanas) has granted a decisive boon: the son who follows the king’s directive will rule. On that basis, the assembly is urged to consecrate Pūru as king.