Shloka 96

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

Devanagari script

सा स्त्री प्रोवाच भगवन्‌ द्रक्ष्य्से देशकालत: । वस तावन्महाभाग कृतकृत्यो भविष्यसि,उस स्त्रीने कहा--“भगवन्‌! महाभाग! देश और कालके अनुसार आपको अनुभव हो जायगा। आप यहाँ रहिये, कृतकृत्य हो जाइयेगा”

Transliteration

sā strī provāca bhagavan drakṣyase deśa-kālataḥ | vasa tāvan mahābhāga kṛta-kṛtyo bhaviṣyasi ||

Translation

Aquella mujer dijo: «Oh venerable señor, oh noble: a su debido tiempo, según el lugar y la ocasión, lo sabrás por ti mismo. Quédate aquí por ahora; llegarás a ser alguien cuyo propósito ha sido cumplido».

Word by Word

साshe

स्त्रीwoman

प्रोवाचsaid/spoke

भगवन्O venerable one / O Lord

द्रक्ष्यसेyou will see/realize

देशby/according to place

कालतःaccording to time

वसstay/dwell

तावत्for that long / meanwhile

महाभागO fortunate one / O noble one

कृतकृत्यःone whose purpose is accomplished

भविष्यसिyou will become

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

a woman (unnamed)

bhagavan (addressed person, unnamed in this verse)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes deśa-kāla—acting and understanding in harmony with context. Insight and the completion of one’s duty often arise naturally when one remains steady and patient until the right time and circumstances reveal the truth.

What is happening in the narrative?

An unnamed woman addresses a revered person, assuring him that he will understand matters through lived experience as time and place unfold. She urges him to stay for the present, promising that he will become kṛta-kṛtya—fulfilled in purpose.