Shloka 46

Duḥṣantasya Vana-praveśaḥ

King Duḥṣanta’s Entry into the Forest Hunt

Devanagari script

मन्मथाभिपरीतात्मा नापश्यद्‌ गिरिकां तदा । अपश्यन्‌ कामसंतप्तश्नरमाणो यदृच्छया,यह उद्दीपन-सामग्री पाकर राजाका हृदय कामवेदनासे पीड़ित हो उठा। उस समय उन्हें अपनी रानी गिरिकाका दर्शन नहीं हुआ। उसे न देखकर कामाग्निसे संतप्त हो वे इच्छानुसार इधर-उधर घूमने लगे

Transliteration

manmathābhiparītātmā nāpaśyad girikāṁ tadā | apaśyan kāmasaṁtaptas caramāṇo yadṛcchayā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: With his mind overpowered by the god of love, the king did not see Girikā at that time. Not seeing her, and scorched by desire, he wandered about as chance led him.

Word by Word

मन्मथाभिपरीतात्माone whose mind was overpowered/turned by Love (Kāma)

नnot

अपश्यत्saw

गिरिकाम्Girikā (the queen)

तदाthen, at that time

अपश्यन्not seeing / while not seeing

कामसंतप्तःtormented by desire

अन्वमाणःwandering about / roaming

यदृच्छयाby chance; at will

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Manmatha (Kāma)

Girikā

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how unchecked desire can dominate the mind, cloud perception, and drive restless, purposeless action—an implicit ethical warning about the need for self-control.

What is happening in the narrative?

The king, inflamed by passion (as if seized by Manmatha), fails to find or see Queen Girikā and, distressed by desire, roams about aimlessly.