Shloka 11

Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy

Devanagari script

निर्वेष्टकामस्तु पुरा अष्टावक्रो महातपा: । ऋषेरथ वदान्यस्य वत्रे कन्यां महात्मन:,पूर्वकालकी बात है, महातपस्वी अष्टावक्र विवाह करना चाहते थे, उन्होंने इसके लिये महात्मा वदान्य ऋषिसे उनकी कन्या माँगी

Transliteration

nirveṣṭakāmas tu purā aṣṭāvakro mahātapāḥ | ṛṣer atha vadānyasya vavre kanyāṁ mahātmanaḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma dijo: En tiempos antiguos, el gran asceta Aṣṭāvakra, deseoso de contraer matrimonio, solicitó la hija del noble sabio Vadānya, magnánimo y generoso. Este episodio muestra cómo aun una vida de austeridad puede volverse hacia el deber del hogar conforme al dharma, y cómo el matrimonio se emprende mediante una petición legítima y el consentimiento debido dentro de la rectitud.

Word by Word

निर्वेष्टकामःdesirous of marriage (lit. having the desire to be unbound/loosed)

तुbut/indeed

पुराformerly/once

अष्टावक्रःAṣṭāvakra (name of a sage)

महातपाःgreat ascetic

ऋषेःof the sage

अथthen/and now

वदान्यस्यof the generous (one)

वत्रेin/at Vatra (place-name) / in the (so-called) Vatra

कन्याम्a daughter/maiden

महात्मनःof the great-souled (sage)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Aṣṭāvakra

Sage Vadānya

Vadānya's daughter (kanyā)

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 frames marriage as a dharmic transition: even a powerful ascetic may legitimately enter household life, but the step is taken through proper approach—formally seeking a bride from her guardian within accepted social and ethical norms.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma begins an old account: the ascetic Aṣṭāvakra wished to marry and therefore asked the sage Vadānya for his daughter, setting up the circumstances for the ensuing story and its moral implications.