Shloka 12
Uttaṅka’s Petition for Madayantī’s Divine Earrings (Maṇikuṇḍala) — Agreement, Proof, and Vigilance
जग्राहाश्रूणि सुश्रोणी करेण पृथुलोचना । पितुर्नियोगाद् धर्मज्ञा शिरसावनता तदा
jagrāhāśrūṇi suśroṇī kareṇa pṛthulocanā | piturniyogād dharmajñā śirasāvanatā tadā ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Alors la noble femme—à la taille fine et aux grands yeux—essuya ses larmes de la main. Sachant ce qu’exigeait le dharma et agissant sur l’ordre de son père, elle inclina la tête en signe de soumission.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as disciplined conduct: even amid grief, one restrains emotion and accepts rightful instruction—here, the father’s directive—expressed through humility (bowing the head).
A woman, described as graceful and large-eyed, wipes her tears and, following her father’s command, lowers her head—signaling acceptance, deference, and readiness to act according to dharma.