Shloka 56
Āśā-prabhava (आशाप्रभव) — On the Rise and Power of Hope/Expectation
Sumitra Itihāsa Begins
इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ तत्र यतो वृत्तं नराधिप । ततः प्रभामयी देवी शरीरात् तस्य निर्यया
ity uktvā prayayau tatra yato vṛttaṃ narādhipa | tataḥ prabhāmayī devī śarīrāt tasya niryayau | tvayā tyaktā gamiṣyāmi bala-hānugatā hāham |
Ayant ainsi parlé, il partit vers le lieu où s’en était allée la voie de la conduite, ô roi. Alors, de son corps surgit une déesse toute de splendeur. Elle déclara : « Délaissée par toi, je m’en vais. Hélas, je suis celle qui suit la Force (Bala). »
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Lakṣmī (fortune, splendor) is not independent of moral strength: she accompanies Bala—understood as righteous vigor, self-control, and steadfast conduct. When a person abandons that strength, prosperity naturally departs.
After a declaration, Bala goes away following the path of proper conduct. Immediately a radiant goddess emerges from the (former) host’s body and announces that she is Lakṣmī; since she has been forsaken, she will leave, because she follows Bala.