Shloka 13

Devanagari script

प्रमदाभ्यो वरा सा तु सत्त्वरूपगुणान्विता । ततः प्रमद्वरेत्यस्था नाम चक्रे महानृषि:,वह बुद्धि, रूप और सब उत्तम गुणोंसे सुशोभित हो संसारकी समस्त प्रमदाओं (सुन्दरी स्त्रियों)-से श्रेष्ठ जान पड़ती थी; इसलिये महर्षिने उसका नाम “प्रमद्धरा' रख दिया

Transliteration

pramadābhyo varā sā tu sattvarūpaguṇānvitā | tataḥ pramadvarety āsthā nāma cakre mahān ṛṣiḥ ||

Translation

Śaunaka said: She appeared superior to all other maidens, being endowed with a noble disposition, beauty, and excellent qualities. Therefore the great sage, taking her to be the best among maidens, bestowed on her the name “Pramadvārā.”

Word by Word

प्रमदाभ्यःfrom (among) the women/maidens

वराexcellent, best

साshe

तुbut/indeed

सत्त्व-रूप-गुण-अन्विताendowed with good nature, beauty, and virtues

ततःtherefore/then

प्रमदा-वराthe best among women

इतिthus (quotative)

अस्याof her

नामname

चक्रेmade, assigned

महान्great

ऋषिःsage

Speaker

शौनक उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śaunaka

mahān ṛṣiḥ (the great sage)

Pramadvārā (named woman)

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 links true excellence to a combination of inner virtue (sattva) and outward grace (rūpa), suggesting that worthiness is recognized through both character and conduct, and is honored through meaningful naming.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śaunaka reports that a woman is judged superior to other maidens because of her noble nature, beauty, and virtues; consequently, a great sage gives her the name Pramadvārā, reflecting her perceived preeminence.