Shloka 92

Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy

Devanagari script

प्रिया: स्त्रीणां यथा कामो रतिशीला हि योषित: । सहस्रे किल नारीणां प्राप्पेतेका कदाचन

Transliteration

priyāḥ strīṇāṃ yathā kāmo ratiśīlā hi yoṣitaḥ | sahasre kila nārīṇāṃ prāpyate ekā kadācana ||

Translation

アシュターヴァクラは言った。「欲望が女たちにとって愛しいものであり、女は本性として愛と親密さに傾くように、同じく——幾千の女のうち、まれにこそ真に得られる一人、稀有の伴侶が現れるのだ。」

Word by Word

• प्रियाः: dear, beloved
• प्रियाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• यथा: as, just as
• यथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• कामः: desire, love
• कामः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रतिशीलाः: given to pleasure (sexual enjoyment)
• रतिशीलाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रतिशील
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• योषितः: women
• योषितः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• सहस्रे: in a thousand
• सहस्रे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• किल: it is said, indeed
• किल: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल

• नारीणाम्: of women
• नारीणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• प्राप्य: having obtained, having found
• प्राप्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• एका: one (single)
• एका: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• कदाचन: sometimes, ever/at any time
• कदाचन: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन

Speaker

अष्टावक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Aṣṭāvakra
• women (striyaḥ/yoṣitaḥ/nāryaḥ)
• kāma (desire)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores discernment in relationships: desire and attraction are common human impulses, but a truly fitting, exceptional partner is rare and is ‘attained’ only sometimes—implying the need for restraint, careful choice, and ethical conduct rather than being driven merely by kāma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Aṣṭāvakra is speaking in a didactic context within Anuśāsana Parva, offering observations about human tendencies and the rarity of an ideal companion, as part of broader moral instruction on conduct and values.