Kāṣṭhīlā-Ākhyāna: Ratnāvalī’s Return, Co-wife Dharma, and the Phālguna Propitiation
अस्याः पृष्ठे निविष्टाहं प्रीत्या सह द्विजन्मना । धर्मत स्तेन मद्भर्ता भवेदेषा मतिर्मम ॥ २९ ॥
asyāḥ pṛṣṭhe niviṣṭāhaṃ prītyā saha dvijanmanā | dharmata stena madbhartā bhavedeṣā matirmama || 29 ||
「彼女の背に座り、私は愛をもって二度生まれし者(ドヴィジャ)と並んでいる。ダルマの規準によれば、我が夫は盗人と見なされよう—これが私の理解である。」
A woman (narrative speaker within the Adhyaya’s story; exact identity not specified in the provided verse)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
The verse highlights dharma as a standard of moral discernment: even when affection is present, one should recognize wrongdoing and name it truthfully.
Indirectly, it suggests that devotion and love must remain aligned with dharma; true bhakti in Purāṇic ethics does not excuse adharma but supports truthful, righteous conduct.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharma-nīti—ethical reasoning applied to real situations.