Shloka 38

Devanagari script

सा वै यथा त्वया दृष्टा तथा<जस्ते त्वत्प्रतीक्षिणी । दहामाना भृशं बाला वस्त्रार्थेनाभिसंवृता,“उसे तुमने जिस अवस्थामें देखा था, उसी अवस्थामें वह आज भी है और तुम्हारे आगमनकी प्रतीक्षा कर रही है। आधे वस्त्रसे अपने शरीरको ढँककर वह युवती तुम्हारी विरहाग्निमें निरन्तर जल रही है

Transliteration

sā vai yathā tvayā dṛṣṭā tathā adya api te tvatpratīkṣiṇī | dahamānā bhṛśaṃ bālā vastrārthena abhisamvṛtā ||

Translation

“She is exactly as you saw her then; even today she remains the same, waiting for your return. That young woman, covering herself with only a half-garment, is being fiercely consumed—unceasingly—by the fire of separation from you.”

Word by Word

साshe

वैindeed

यथाas/just as

त्वयाby you

दृष्टाseen

तथाso/in that same way

अद्यtoday/now

अस्तेis/remains

त्वत्from you/for you (as base in compound)

प्रतीक्षिणीwaiting (for)

दहामानाburning

भृशम्excessively

बालाthe young girl

वस्त्रof cloth/garment

अर्थेनwith (only) the purpose/amount (i.e., as much as needed)

अभिसंवृताcovered/veiled

Speaker

युदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

a young woman (unnamed, awaiting the addressee)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical responsibility toward those who depend on us: neglect and delay can become another’s suffering. It evokes compassion and accountability by portraying how steadfast waiting and modest endurance can coexist with intense inner pain.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira reports to the addressed person that the woman remains in the same condition as previously seen, still waiting for him. Her outward poverty (scant clothing) mirrors her inward distress, as she is described as burning in the anguish of separation.