Shloka 18

Omens and Consolation after Loss; Reaffirmation of the Saindhava Punishment Vow (उत्पात-दर्शनम्, आश्वासन-वाक्यानि, प्रतिज्ञा-स्थैर्यम्)

Devanagari script

पज्च चाब्दानि कारुण्यात्‌ प्रजानां तु हितैषिणी । इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्य: प्रियेभ्य: संनिवर्त्य सा,उसने वहाँ अत्यन्त कठोर और उत्तम व्रतका पालन आरम्भ किया। उस समय वह दयावश प्रजावर्गका हित करनेकी इच्छासे अपनी इन्द्रियोंको प्रिय विषयोंसे हटाकर इक्कीस पद्म वर्षोतक एक पैरपर खड़ी रही

Transliteration

pañca cābdāni kāruṇyāt prajānāṃ tu hitaiṣiṇī | indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyaḥ priye bhyaḥ saṃnivartya sā ||

Translation

Nārada dit : Par compassion et pour le bien du peuple, elle retint ses sens loin de leurs objets chéris ; durant cinq années, elle observa un vœu sévère et excellent — debout sur un seul pied, inébranlable dans l’austérité pour le bien de tous.

Word by Word

पञ्चfive

चand

अब्दानिyears

कारुण्यात्out of compassion

प्रजानाम्of the subjects/people

तुindeed/but

हितैषिणीone who seeks the welfare (of others)

इन्द्रियाणिthe senses

इन्द्रियार्थेभ्यःfrom the objects of the senses

प्रियेभ्यःfrom dear/pleasing (objects)

संनिवर्त्यhaving withdrawn/turned back

साshe

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Compassionate leadership and dharma are grounded in self-restraint: withdrawing the senses from pleasing objects and undertaking disciplined vows (tapas) for the welfare of others.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada describes a woman devoted to the public good who, motivated by compassion, practices severe austerity by restraining her senses and observing an excellent vow for five years.