Shloka 4

ययातिः शर्मिष्ठायाः ऋतुप्रार्थनां धर्मसंवादं च शृणोति

Yayāti and Śarmiṣṭhā: request in ṛtu and discourse on truth and dharma

Devanagari script

एवं ज्ञात्वा विजानीहि यद्‌ ब्रवीमि तपोधन । व्रतस्थे नियमोपेते यथा वर्ताम्यहं त्वयि,“तपोधन! ऐसा जानकर मैं जो कहती हूँ उसपर विचार करें। आप जब व्रत और नियमोंके पालनमें लगे थे, उन दिनों मैंने आपके साथ जो बर्ताव किया है, उसे आप भूले नहीं होंगे

Transliteration

evaṁ jñātvā vijānīhi yad bravīmi tapodhana | vratasthe niyamopete yathā vartāmy ahaṁ tvayi ||

Translation

«Sachant cela, comprends bien ce que je vais dire, ô toi riche en austérités. Lorsque tu étais ferme dans tes vœux et tes observances, tu n’as pas pu oublier la manière dont je me suis conduite envers toi.»

Word by Word

एवम्thus, in this manner

ज्ञात्वाhaving known

विजानीहिknow clearly; understand

यत्what, that which

ब्रवीमिI say

तपोधनO one whose wealth is austerity (ascetic)

व्रतस्थेwhen (you were) abiding in a vow

नियमोपेतेendowed with restraints/observances

यथाas, in the way that

वर्तामिI behave; I conduct myself

अहम्I

त्वयिtoward you; with regard to you

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

tapodhana (addressed ascetic)

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 emphasizes ethical accountability in speech and conduct: before accepting what is said, one should recall the speaker’s prior behavior—especially during periods of strict vows and discipline—since character and restraint lend credibility and moral weight to words.

What is happening in the narrative?

A speaker addresses an ascetic (“tapodhana”), urging him to understand an important statement in light of past interactions, specifically reminding him of how she behaved toward him when he was engaged in vows and regulated observances.