Shloka 2

Karṇa’s Counsel on Śrī

Fortune) and the Proposed Display before the Exiled Pāṇḍavas (कर्णवचनम् / श्रीप्रदर्शन-प्रस्तावः

Devanagari script

जगाम पावकाभ्याशं तं॑ं चोवाच वराड़ना । मामग्ने कामसंतप्तां त्वं कामयितुमरहसि

Transliteration

jagāma pāvakābhyāśaṃ taṃ ca uvāca varāṅganā | mām agne kāma-santaptāṃ tvaṃ kāmayitum arhasi ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya dit : Alors cette femme ravissante s’approcha du dieu du Feu et lui dit : «Ô Agni, je suis brûlée par la fièvre du désir ; tu dois m’accueillir et combler mon attente.»

Word by Word

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), 3, singular

• पावक: of the Fire (Agni)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक
• Form: masculine, genitive (in compound), singular

• अभ्याशम्: nearby place; proximity
• अभ्याशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्याश
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• पावकाभ्याशम्: to the vicinity of Agni
• पावकाभ्याशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावकाभ्याश
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), 3, singular

• वराङ्गना: the beautiful woman
• वराङ्गना: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराङ्गना
• Form: feminine, nominative, singular

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: accusative, singular

• अग्ने: O Agni
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• काम: by desire; with love
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम
• Form: masculine, instrumental (in compound), singular

• संतप्ताम्: tormented; burning
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संतप्त
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• कामसंतप्ताम्: burning with desire
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामसंतप्त
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: nominative, singular

• कामयितुम्: to desire; to love; to satisfy (in love)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कम् (कान्तौ) / कामय् (denom.)
• Form: tumun (infinitive)

• अर्हसि: are able/ought; are fit
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: लट्, 2, singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Agni (Pāvaka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse sets up a dharmic test: intense desire is presented as a force that can pressure one into wrongdoing, highlighting the ethical need for restraint and discernment when confronted by temptation.

What is happening in the narrative?

A beautiful woman approaches Agni and speaks to him, declaring that she is tormented by desire and asking him to accept her—initiating a scene of seduction that will test conduct and propriety.