Shloka 75

Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

बाला क्षुधार्ता नारी च रक्ष्या त्वं सततं मया | उपवासपरिश्रान्ता त्वं हि बान्धवनन्दिनी,एक तो तुम अभी बालिका हो, दूसरे भूखसे पीड़ित हो रही हो, तीसरे नारी हो और चौथे उपवास करते-करते अत्यन्त दुबली हो गयी हो; अतः मुझे सदा तुम्हारी रक्षा करनी चाहिये; क्योंकि तुम अपनी सेवाओंद्वारा बान्धवजनोंको आनन्दित करनेवाली हो

Transliteration

bālā kṣudhārtā nārī ca rakṣyā tvaṃ satataṃ mayā | upavāsapariśrāntā tvaṃ hi bāndhavanandinī ||

Translation

“You are still a young girl, you are afflicted by hunger, you are a woman, and you have become utterly worn down by fasting. Therefore it is my constant duty to protect you, for you are one who brings joy to the family through your devoted service.”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'bālā', 'definition': 'a young girl

• one needing care'}, {'term': 'kṣudhā', 'definition': 'hunger'}, {'term': 'kṣudhārtā', 'definition': 'afflicted/tormented by hunger'}, {'term': 'nārī', 'definition': 'woman'}, {'term': 'rakṣyā', 'definition': 'to be protected

• worthy of protection (gerundive)'}, {'term': 'satataṃ', 'definition': 'always

• continually'}, {'term': 'mayā', 'definition': 'by me

• on my part'}, {'term': 'upavāsa', 'definition': 'fasting

• religious abstinence from food'}, {'term': 'pariśrāntā', 'definition': 'exhausted

• greatly fatigued'}, {'term': 'hi', 'definition': 'indeed

• because (emphatic/causal particle)'}, {'term': 'bāndhava', 'definition': 'kinsman

• family member'}, {'term': 'nandinī', 'definition': 'one who delights

Speaker

श्षशुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• śvaśura (father-in-law, speaker)
• bālā (young girl, addressed woman)
• bāndhava (kinsfolk/relatives)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames protection as a dharmic obligation: when someone is young, hungry, physically weakened, and socially vulnerable, the guardian’s duty is continuous care. It also recognizes the moral worth of service that sustains family harmony.

What is happening in the narrative?

A father-in-law addresses a young woman who is suffering from hunger and exhaustion due to fasting, and he declares that he must always protect her, emphasizing her vulnerable condition and her role as a source of joy to the family.