Shloka 9
तदर्हसि कृपां कर्तु मयि त्वं वरवर्णिनि । मत्वा मूढेति तन्मा त्वं भक्ता वानुगतेति वा,“अतः वरवर्णिनि! आपको मुझे एक मूढ़ स्वभावकी स्त्री मानकर या अपनी भक्ता जानकर अथवा अनुचरी (सेविका) समझकर मुझपर कृपा करनी चाहिये
tad arhasi kṛpāṃ kartuṃ mayi tvaṃ varavarṇini | matvā mūḍheti tan mā tvaṃ bhaktā vā anugate ti vā ||
Therefore, O fair-complexioned lady, you ought to show compassion to me—do not treat me with contempt by thinking, ‘She is foolish,’ nor by regarding me merely as a devotee or as one who follows in attendance. Let your kindness arise from true mercy, not from dismissal or condescension.
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Compassion should be offered with dignity and sincerity, not from a stance that belittles the recipient as foolish or reduces them to a mere subordinate; ethical kindness avoids condescension.
A woman addresses a ‘varavarṇinī’ (a noble or beautiful lady), requesting mercy and urging her not to frame that mercy as something granted because the speaker is foolish, merely devoted, or simply an attendant—highlighting the power dynamics implicit in giving help.