Shloka 27

Adhyaya 16 — The Son’s Counsel on Renunciation and the Anasuya–Mandavya Episode: The Suspension of Sunrise and the Power of Pativrata

Sanskrit

पथि शूले तथा प्रोतं चौरं यौरशङ्कया ।

माण्डव्यमतिदुःखार्तमन्धकारेऽथ स द्विजः ॥

Transliteration

pathi śūle tathā protaṃ cauraṃ yauraśaṅkayā / māṇḍavyam atiduḥkhārtam andhakāre 'tha sa dvijaḥ

Translation

En el camino, en la oscuridad, aquel brahmán (Kauśika) se topó con Māṇḍavya, empalado en una estaca—castigado por sospecha como ladrón—atormentado por un dolor extremado.

Word by Word

• पथि: on the path
• पथि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शूले: on a stake/spear
• शूले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: thus/so
• तथा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus/so)

• प्रोतम्: impaled/pierced
• प्रोतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रोत (प्रातिपदिक; प्र-√वे/√वय्?; क्त, 'threaded/impaled')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of चौरम्)

• चौरम्: a thief
• चौरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यौर-शङ्कया: due to suspicion (of theft)
• यौर-शङ्कया: Hetu (हेतु/Instrumental-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यौर + शङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (yauḥ-śaṅkā: suspicion of being a thief/robber; पाठदोषसम्भावना)

• माण्डव्यम्: Māṇḍavya
• माण्डव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माण्डव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम (proper name)

• अति-दुःख-आर्तम्: afflicted by extreme pain
• अति-दुःख-आर्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + दुःख + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (ati-duḥkhena ārtaḥ)

• अन्धकारे: in darkness
• अन्धकारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्धकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (particle: then/now)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• द्विजः: the brahmin
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrator

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "karuna", "secondaryRasa": "raudra", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Karmic consequence
• Power of tapas
• Injustice (punishment on suspicion)
• Speech as destiny (approaching curse)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The episode juxtaposes worldly justice (punishment by suspicion) with ascetic potency: when society errs, the injured tapasvin’s response can reshape the world—thus rulers must be meticulous in dharma.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Didactic episode; indirectly supports vaṃśānucarita by portraying consequences of adharma in governance and the extraordinary agency of sages.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘stake’ symbolizes the axis of karmic constraint; contact with it (even by accident) triggers latent saṃskāras and releases the force of śāpa (imprecatory speech).