Shloka 15

Mudgalasya Svarga-nirvedaḥ

Mudgala’s Disenchantment with Heaven

Devanagari script

उपकारो महांस्तात कृतो5यं मम खेचरै: । कुलं न परिभूतं मे मोक्षणे5स्य दुरात्मन:,“तात! आकाशचारी गन्धर्वोने यह मेरा बहुत बड़ा उपकार किया कि इस दुरात्माको छोड़ दिया, इसलिये मेरे कुलका अपमान नहीं हुआ

Transliteration

upakāro mahāṁs tāta kṛto ’yaṁ mama khecaraiḥ | kulaṁ na paribhūtaṁ me mokṣaṇe ’sya durātmanaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “My dear child, the sky-roaming Gandharvas have rendered me a great service: by releasing this wicked man, they ensured that my lineage did not suffer humiliation in the matter of his deliverance.”

Word by Word

उपकारःa favor, help

महान्great

तातdear (sir/son), O dear one

कृतःdone, performed

अयम्this

ममof me, my

खेचरैःby sky-goers (celestial beings)

कुलम्family, lineage

नnot

परिभूतम्insulted, dishonored

मेof me, my

मोक्षणेin (the act of) releasing, at the release

अस्यof this (man), his

दुरात्मनःof the wicked-souled one

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Gandharvas

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

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 the ethical weight of family honor and public reputation: even when dealing with a wrongdoer, the manner of release or rescue can reflect upon one’s lineage, so gratitude is due to those who prevent dishonor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports that the Gandharvas (celestial sky-goers) have done a major favor by releasing a wicked person; this act, in his view, prevents his own family line from being shamed in connection with that person’s liberation.