Shloka 17

Adhyaya 20 — Duties of Life Stages

Sanskrit

दृष्टयोरत्र पाताले बहूनि दिवसानि मे ।

दिवा रजन्यामेवोभौ पश्यामि प्रियदर्शनौ ॥

Transliteration

dṛṣṭayor atra pātāle bahūni divasāni me |

divā rajanyām evobhau paśyāmi priya-darśanau ||

Translation

「幾日も前から、ここパーターラにおいて、昼も夜もお前たち二人を見ている――まことに目に麗しい者たちよ。」

Word by Word

• दृष्टयोः: (since) I saw (you two)
• दृष्टयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/temporal-genitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘दृष्ट’; षष्ठी/सप्तमी (Genitive/Locative), द्विवचन; here used with ‘मे’ in sense ‘of my seeing/when I saw’ (constructional)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• पाताले: in Pātāla
• पाताले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• बहूनि: many
• बहूनि: Karma (कर्म; extent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying दिवसानि)

• दिवसानि: days
• दिवसानि: Karma (कर्म/extent of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; काल-अवधि (duration)

• मे: of me, my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दिवा: by day
• दिवा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time) ‘by day’

• रजन्याम्: at night
• रजन्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; काल-अधिकरण

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• उभौ: both (of you)
• उभौ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन

• पश्यामि: I see
• पश्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रिय-दर्शनौ: pleasant-looking
• प्रिय-दर्शनौ: Karma (कर्म; qualifier of उभौ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘प्रियं दर्शनं ययोः’ = pleasant to behold

Speakers

• Nāga father (continuing) within the story

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Observation and suspicion
• Routine disruption
• Family oversight

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Behavioral change becomes visible over time; the verse implies that sustained deviation from one’s normal duties draws inquiry, encouraging accountability within family and community.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Narrative (upākhyāna) supporting ethical reflection; not a direct pancalakṣaṇa enumeration.

What is the esoteric significance?

Day/night repetition indicates the mind’s fixation: craving does not rest with circadian cycles; it persists until insight or detachment interrupts it.