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

• मुक्तशापः: freed from the curse
• मुक्तशापः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त-शाप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजर्षिः: the royal sage
• राजर्षिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजर्षि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कालेन: by/with time
• कालेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• महता: great, long (time)
• महता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• ऋतुकाले: in the season/time of fertility
• ऋतुकाले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋतुकाल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• अभिपतितः: having approached / gone to
• अभिपतितः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√पत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle), Passive (participial)

• मदयन्त्या: by Madayantī
• मदयन्त्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदयन्ती
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• निवारितः: was restrained / prevented
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√वृ (निवारयति)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle), Passive (participial)

Speaker

गन्धर्व उवाच

Characters & Entities

• राजर्षि (the royal sage, i.e., King Saudāsa/Kalmāṣapāda in this narrative context)
• मदयन्ती (Madayantī, the queen)
• शाप (curse)
• ऋतुकाल (the proper season for conception)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when desire is socially sanctioned (approaching one’s spouse in the proper season), dharma requires restraint and adherence to conditions set by vows or curses; ethical life includes remembering consequences and choosing self-control over impulse.

What is happening in the narrative?

A royal sage, long bound by a curse, is finally released. During the fertile season he approaches his wife, but Queen Madayantī stops him, recalling the curse’s stipulation and preventing a transgression.