Shloka 44
Adhyāya 14: Sudēṣṇā Sends Sairandhrī to Kīcaka’s House (सुदेष्णा–सैरन्ध्री–कीचक संवादः)
सर्वकामसमृद्धेषु भोगेष्वनुपमेष्विह । भोक्तव्येषु च कल्याणि कस्माद् दास््ये रता हासि,“कल्याणि! जब सम्पूर्ण मनोरथोंसे सम्पन्न अनुपम भोग यहाँ भोगनेके लिये तुम्हें सुलभ हो रहे हैं, तब तुम दासीपनमें क्यों आसक्त हो?
sarvakāmasamṛddheṣu bhogeṣv anupameṣv iha | bhoktavyeṣu ca kalyāṇi kasmād dāsye ratā hāsi ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Ô dame de bon augure, lorsque des jouissances incomparables, comblant tous les désirs, s’offrent ici à toi pour être goûtées, pourquoi demeures-tu attachée à l’état de servitude ?»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts material abundance with a chosen life of service, implicitly raising an ethical question: when pleasure and privilege are available, what inner commitment or principle leads someone to prefer humility, duty, or self-restraint over indulgence?
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, someone addresses an ‘auspicious lady’ and questions her preference for remaining in a servant’s role despite the availability of exceptional comforts and pleasures, highlighting a tension between external opportunity and personal resolve.