Shloka 42
Viśvāmitra-janma: Ṛcīka–Satyavatī–Gādhi and the Charu Exchange (विश्वामित्र-जन्म: ऋचीक–सत्यवती–गाधि वृत्तान्तः)
सा श्रुत्वा शोकसंतप्ता पपात वरवर्णिनी । भूमौ सत्यवती राजन् छिन्नेव रुचिरा लता
sā śrutvā śokasantaptā papāta varavarṇinī | bhūmau satyavatī rājan chinneva rucirā latā ||
Bhishma dit : Entendant ces paroles, Satyavatī —belle et rayonnante— fut consumée par le chagrin. Ô roi, elle s’effondra à terre, telle une liane gracieuse tranchée de son appui.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the depth of the marital bond and the ethical weight of family relationships: grievous news about one’s spouse can shatter composure, and such sorrow is portrayed as a natural, human consequence rather than a moral failing.
Bhishma narrates that Satyavatī, upon hearing distressing words concerning her husband, is overwhelmed by grief and faints, falling to the earth—compared poetically to a beautiful vine cut and dropping down.