Shloka 4

Viśokā Dvādaśī Vow, Guḍa-Dhenū (Jaggery-Cow) Gift, and Śaila-Dāna (Mountain-Charity) Rites

Devanagari script

लक्ष्मीसदृशरूपेण निर्जितामरसुंदरी । राज्ञस्तस्याग्रमहिषी प्राणेभ्योपि गरीयसी

Transliteration

lakṣmīsadṛśarūpeṇa nirjitāmarasuṃdarī | rājñastasyāgramahiṣī prāṇebhyopi garīyasī

Translation

D’une beauté pareille à celle de Lakṣmī, elle surpassait même les plus ravissantes des jeunes filles célestes. Elle était l’épouse royale principale de ce roi, plus chère à ses yeux que son propre souffle de vie.

Word by Word

• लक्ष्मी-सदृश-रूपेण: with a form like Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्मी-सदृश-रूपेण: Karana/Hetu (Instrument/Cause/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक) + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (रूप), तृतीया (3/तृतीया), एकवचन; समासः—लक्ष्म्याः सदृशं रूपं यस्य/यया (लक्ष्मी-सदृश-रूप) इति तत्पुरुष-समासः; करण/हेतुवाचक तृतीया

• निर्जित-अमर-सुन्दरी: she who surpassed the celestial maidens
• निर्जित-अमर-सुन्दरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √जि) + अमर (प्रातिपदिक) + सुन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—अमराणां सुन्दरीः (अमर-सुन्दरी) इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; ताः निर्जिताः यया सा (निर्जित-अमर-सुन्दरी) इति तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम्

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अग्रमहिषी: the chief queen
• अग्रमहिषी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्रमहिषी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—अग्रा च सा महिषी च (कर्मधारयः: ‘chief queen’)

• प्राणेभ्यः: than (one's) lives
• प्राणेभ्यः: Apadana (Comparison point/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5/पञ्चमी), बहुवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: None (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = ‘even/also’ (सम्भावना/समुच्चय)

• गरीयसी: more precious
• गरीयसी: Karta (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गरियस् (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक-विशेषणम् (comparative)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual speaker not specified in the provided excerpt)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: तस्याग्रमहिषी = तस्य + अग्रमहिषी; प्राणेभ्योपि = प्राणेभ्यः + अपि (विसर्गलोप/ओकारादेशः)।

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmī

FAQs

What is the significance of comparing someone’s beauty to Lakṣmī in Purāṇic literature?

It signals an idealized, auspicious beauty associated with prosperity, grace, and royal fortune—suggesting the woman is not merely attractive but also emblematic of auspiciousness and status.

What does the term “agra-mahiṣī” mean in this verse?

“Agra-mahiṣī” means the principal or chief queen—the foremost consort among the king’s wives, indicating highest rank and special affection.

What ethical or emotional theme does this verse emphasize?

It highlights intense attachment and valuation in human relationships—portraying the queen as more precious to the king than even his own life, a setup often used in Purāṇic narratives to motivate subsequent events.