Shloka 49

Sāvitrī’s Report and Nārada’s Prognosis (सावित्र्याख्यान—सत्यवान्-गुणवर्णनं तथा अल्पायुषः पूर्वसूचना)

Devanagari script

कः शूलं तीक्षणमासाद्य सर्वगान्रैर्निषेवते । कः: शिरस्यग्निमाधाय विश्वस्त: स्वपते सुखम्‌

Transliteration

kaḥ śūlaṃ tīkṣṇam āsādya sarvāṅgair niṣevate | kaḥ śirasy agnim ādhāya viśvastaḥ svapate sukham ||

Translation

Siapa yang akan mendekati tombak yang tajam lalu rela menekannya ke seluruh anggota tubuhnya? Siapa, dalam kebodohan, menaruh api di atas kepalanya lalu tidur nyenyak dengan rasa aman?

Word by Word

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शूलम्: a spear/spike; sharp pain
• शूलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तीक्ष्णम्: sharp
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आसाद्य: having approached/reached
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + सद्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• सर्वगात्रैः: with all (one's) limbs
• सर्वगात्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वगात्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• निषेवते: resorts to/engages in (touches/uses)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + सेव्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Atmanepada, Third, Singular

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शिरसि: on (the) head
• शिरसि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अग्निम्: fire
• अग्निम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आधाय: having placed/put
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + धा
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• विश्वस्तः: confident, unafraid, at ease
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्वस्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्वपते: sleeps
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वप्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Atmanepada, Third, Singular

• सुखम्: happily; in comfort
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

(श्रीरम उवाच

Characters & Entities

• śūla (sharp spear/stake)
• agni (fire)
• śiras (head)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Do not knowingly embrace harmful causes and then expect peace; wisdom lies in avoiding evident sources of suffering and acting with foresight.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrī Rāma speaks in rhetorical questions, using vivid metaphors (a sharp spear and fire on the head) to rebuke complacency and to caution against trusting in safety while remaining in a self-created peril.