Shloka 28

Āśramadharma and the Marks of the Muni

Yayāti–Aṣṭaka Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

मम काम: स च कृत: पूरुणा मित्ररूपिणा | शुक्रेण च वरो दत्त: काव्येनोशनसा स्वयम्‌,पूरने मित्ररूप होकर मेरी कामनाएँ पूर्ण की हैं। स्वयं शुक्राचार्यने मुझे वर दिया है कि 'जो पुत्र तुम्हारा अनुसरण करे, वही राजा एवं समस्त भूमण्डलका पालक हो”। अतः मैं आपलोगोंसे विनयपूर्ण आग्रह करता हूँ कि पूरुको ही राज्यपर अभिषिक्त करें

Transliteration

mama kāmaḥ sa ca kṛtaḥ pūruṇā mitrarūpiṇā | śukreṇa ca varo dattaḥ kāvyenośanasā svayam |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “My desire has been fulfilled by Pūru, who acted in the guise of a friend. And Śukra—Kāvya Uśanas himself—has granted me a boon: ‘Whichever son follows your command, he alone shall be king and protector of the entire earth.’ Therefore I respectfully request you all to anoint Pūru to the sovereignty.”

Word by Word

• {'mama': 'my', 'kāmaḥ': 'desire

• wish', 'saḥ': 'he

• that (referring to the wish/act)', 'ca': 'and', 'kṛtaḥ': 'done

• fulfilled', 'pūruṇā': 'by Pūru (instrumental singular)', 'mitrarūpiṇā': 'in the form of a friend

• as a friend (instrumental singular)', 'śukreṇa': 'by Śukra (Śukrācārya) (instrumental singular)', 'varaḥ': 'boon

• blessing', 'dattaḥ': 'given', 'kāvyena': 'by Kāvya (patronymic of Śukra)

• by the poet-sage (instrumental singular)', 'uśanasā': 'by Uśanas (name of Śukra) (instrumental singular)', 'svayam': 'himself

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pūru
• Śukra (Śukrācārya)
• Kāvya Uśanas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Legitimate kingship is grounded in dharma: the ruler should be the one who upholds the father’s command and the moral order. The boon from Śukra reinforces that ethical obedience and rightful conduct—not mere birth order—can determine sovereignty.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker reports that Pūru has fulfilled the king’s wish by acting loyally, and that Śukra (Kāvya Uśanas) has granted a decisive boon: the son who follows the king’s directive will rule. On that basis, the assembly is urged to consecrate Pūru as king.