Shloka 24
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 181 — Svayaṃvara Aftermath: Arjuna–Karna Exchange and Bhīma–Śalya Contest
Devanagari script
मुक्तशापश्न राजर्षि: कालेन महता ततः । ऋतुकाले5भिपतितो मदयन्त्या निवारित:,दीर्घकालके पश्चात् वे राजर्षि जब शापसे मुक्त हुए, तब ऋतुकालमें अपनी पत्नीके पास गये। परंतु उनकी रानी मदयन्तीने उन्हें (उक्त शापकी याद दिलाकर) रोक दिया
Transliteration
muktaśāpaś ca rājarṣiḥ kālena mahatā tataḥ | ṛtukāle ’bhipatito madayantyā nivāritaḥ ||
Translation
After a long lapse of time, the royal sage was released from the curse. When the season of fertility arrived, he approached his wife; yet Queen Madayantī restrained him, reminding him of the curse’s condition. The episode underscores the ethical demand for self-control and fidelity to a vow even when desire is legitimate and timely.
Word by Word
मुक्तशापःfreed from the curse
मुक्तशापः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमुक्त-शाप
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
राजर्षिःthe royal sage
राजर्षिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराजर्षि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कालेनby/with time
कालेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकाल
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
महताgreat, long (time)
महता:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
ततःthen, thereafter
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
ऋतुकालेin the season/time of fertility
ऋतुकाले:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootऋतुकाल
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
अभिपतितःhaving approached / gone to
अभिपतितः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-√पत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle), Passive (participial)
मदयन्त्याby Madayantī
मदयन्त्या:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootमदयन्ती
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
निवारितःwas restrained / prevented
निवारितः:
TypeVerb
Rootनि-√वृ (निवारयति)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle), Passive (participial)
Speaker
गन्धर्व उवाच
Characters & Entities
र
राजर्षि (the royal sage, i.e., King Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda in this narrative context)म
मदयन्ती (Madayantī, the queen)श
शाप (curse)ऋ
ऋतुकाल (the proper season for conception)Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Geographic Context
Sandhi Notes