Shloka 10

Sukanyā’s Encounter with the Aśvins and Cyavana’s Rejuvenation (लोमश–सुकन्या–च्यवनोपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

असमर्थ परित्राणे पोषणे तु शुचिस्मिते । सा त्वं च्यवनमुत्सृूज्य वरयस्वैकमावयो:,“पवित्र मुसकानवाली देवि! वह बूढ़ा तो तुम्हारी रक्षा और पालन-पोषणमें भी समर्थ नहीं है। अतः तुम च्यवनको छोड़कर हम दोनोंमेंसे किसी एकको अपना पति चुन लो

Transliteration

asamartha-paritrāṇe poṣaṇe tu śucismite | sā tvaṁ cyavanam utsṛjya varayasvaikam āvayoḥ ||

Translation

「清らかな微笑みの君よ。老いたチャヴァナには、そなたを守り養う力はない。ゆえにチャヴァナを捨て、我ら二人のうちいずれかを夫として選べ。」

Word by Word

असमर्थःincapable

परित्राणेin protection / in rescuing

पोषणेin maintenance / in nourishing

तुbut

शुचिस्मितेO one with a pure/bright smile

साshe / that (woman)

त्वम्you

च्यवनम्Chyavana (the sage)

उत्सृज्यhaving abandoned / leaving behind

वरयस्वchoose (for yourself)

एकम्one

आवयोःof us two / between the two of us

Speaker

लोगश उवाच

Characters & Entities

Cyavana

Śuci-smita (epithet of the addressed woman)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a common ethical pressure: persuading someone to abandon a rightful bond by appealing to material security and capability. It invites reflection on dharma—whether ‘protection and provision’ can justify breaking fidelity and vows, especially when the relationship involves duty toward an elder and a sage.

What is happening in the narrative?

A speaker (in this episode, typically one of the Aśvin twins) addresses the young wife of the aged sage Cyavana, claiming Cyavana cannot protect or support her, and urges her to leave him and choose one of the two divine suitors instead.