Shloka 14

Devanagari script

त्वां तु चैवंविध॑ ज्ञात्वा स्वयं वै पाकशासन: । आगन्ता कुण्डलार्थाय कवचं चैव भिक्षितुम्‌,“तुम्हारे ऐसे स्वभावको जानकर साक्षात्‌ इन्द्र तुमसे तुम्हारे कवच और कुण्डल माँगनेके लिये आनेवाले हैं

Transliteration

tvāṁ tu caivamvidhaṁ jñātvā svayaṁ vai pākaśāsanaḥ | āgantā kuṇḍalārthāya kavacaṁ caiva bhikṣitum ||

Translation

But knowing you to be of such a nature, Pākaśāsana (Indra) himself will come to you, seeking your earrings, and also begging for your armor. The statement underscores how a person’s steadfast generosity and adherence to a vow can draw even the gods to test it—raising the ethical tension between uncompromising charity and prudent self-protection.

Word by Word

त्वाम्you

तुbut/indeed

चand

एवंविधम्of such a kind/like this

ज्ञात्वाhaving known

स्वयम्himself/in person

वैindeed/surely

पाकशासनःPākashāsana (Indra, punisher of Pāka)

आगन्ताwill come (as a comer/visitor)

कुण्डलार्थायfor the sake of the earrings

कवचम्armor

चand

एवjust/indeed

भिक्षितुम्to beg/ask for

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Indra (Pākaśāsana)

kuṇḍala (earrings)

kavaca (armor)

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 moral weight of steadfast generosity: when one is known for unwavering charity, even divine powers may test that commitment. It invites reflection on dharma as both virtue (giving) and discernment (the consequences of giving away one’s protection).

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana foretells that Indra, recognizing the person’s characteristic disposition, will personally come in the guise of a supplicant to ask for two prized protections—earrings and armor—setting up a pivotal ethical trial.