Shloka 10

ययातिः शर्मिष्ठायाः ऋतुप्रार्थनां धर्मसंवादं च शृणोति

Yayāti and Śarmiṣṭhā: request in ṛtu and discourse on truth and dharma

Devanagari script

असुरेहन्यमाने च कच त्वयि पुन: पुनः । तदा प्रभृति या प्रीतिस्तां त्वमद्य स्मरस्व मे,देवयानी बोली--द्विजोत्तम! आप मेरे पिताके गुरुपुत्रके पुत्र हैं, मेरे पिताके नहीं; अतः मेरे लिये भी आप पूजनीय और माननीय हैं। कच! जब असुर आपको बार-बार मार डालते थे, तबसे लेकर आजतक आपके प्रति मेरा जो प्रेम रहा है, उसे आज याद कीजिये

Transliteration

asure hanyamāne ca kaca tvayi punaḥ punaḥ | tadā prabhṛti yā prītis tāṃ tvam adya smarasva me ||

Translation

Kaca said: “When you, Kaca, were being slain again and again by the Asuras, from that time onward the affection I have held—remember that love of mine today.”

Word by Word

• {'asure': 'by the Asura(s)

• by demons (instrumental singular used generically)', 'hanyamāne': 'being killed, being slain (locative absolute/participial sense)', 'ca': 'and', 'kaca': 'O Kaca (vocative)', 'tvayi': 'in/with regard to you (locative singular)', 'punaḥ punaḥ': 'again and again

• repeatedly', 'tadā': 'then

• at that time', 'prabhṛti': 'from (that time) onward

• since', 'yā': 'which

• that (relative pronoun, feminine)', 'prītiḥ': 'affection, love, fondness', 'tām': 'that (accusative feminine singular)', 'tvam': 'you', 'adya': 'today

• now', 'smarasva': 'remember! (imperative, middle voice)', 'me': 'of me

Speaker

कच उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Kaca
• Asuras

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse appeals to moral memory: enduring affection formed during hardship should not be forgotten in moments of decision. It highlights loyalty and gratitude as ethical obligations arising from shared trials.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kaca addresses the beloved, recalling how he was repeatedly killed by the Asuras and urging her to remember the love that began then and has continued up to the present, as a persuasive appeal in their relationship.