Shloka 16
Agastya’s Encounter with Ilvala and Vātāpi; Dāna, Progeny, and the Renown of Agastya-Āśrama
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत वनपर्वके अन्तर्गत तीर्थयात्रापर्वमें लोमशतीर्थयात्राके प्रसंगमें अगस्त्योपाख्यानविषयक छानबेवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,असंशयं प्रजाहेतोर्भाया पतिरविन्दत | या तु त्वयि मम प्रीतिस्तामृषे कर्तुमहसि “महर्षे! इसमें संदेह नहीं कि पतिदेवने अपनी इस पत्नीको संतानके लिये ही ग्रहण किया है, परंतु आपके प्रति मेरे हृदयमें जो प्रीति है, वह भी आपको सफल करनी चाहिये
asaṁśayaṁ prajā-hetor bhāryāṁ patir avindata | yā tu tvayi mama prītis tām ṛṣe kartum arhasi ||
Tanpa ragu, seorang suami mengambil istri demi keturunan. Namun, wahai resi, kasih yang kupendam kepadamu pun patut engkau penuhi.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse juxtaposes two claims of legitimacy: marriage undertaken for progeny (a socially approved dharmic aim) and a personal bond of prīti toward a sage. It highlights ethical tension between duty-bound institutions and individual attachment, pressing the addressee to respond in a way that ‘fulfills’ the speaker’s devotion.
In dialogue, the speaker asserts that the husband’s acceptance of a wife is clearly for producing children, but then appeals to the sage directly, saying that the speaker’s affection toward him should also be made fruitful—i.e., acknowledged or reciprocated—thereby advancing the interpersonal and moral conflict in the episode.