Shloka 18

Devanagari script

प्रतिगृह्य च तां पूजां सर्वा एव समुत्सुका:।ऋषेर्भीताश्च शीघ्रं ता गमनाय मतिं दधु:।।।।

Transliteration

pratigṛhya ca tāṃ pūjāṃ sarvā eva samutsukāḥ |

ṛṣer bhītāś ca śīghraṃ tā gamanāya matiṃ dadhuḥ ||

Translation

ក្រោយទទួលយកការបូជានោះហើយ ពួកនាងទាំងអស់—ទាំងរំភើប ទាំងកង្វល់—បានកើតការភ័យខ្លាចចំពោះឥសី ហើយប្រញាប់សម្រេចចិត្តចេញដំណើរ។

Word by Word

प्रतिगृह्यhaving accepted

चand

ताम्that

पूजाम्hospitality

सर्वाःall (women)

एवindeed; just

समुत्सुकाःeager; anxious

ऋषेःof the sage

भीताःafraid

चand

शीघ्रम्quickly

ताःthey

गमनायfor departure

मतिम्intention; resolve

दधुःplaced; formed (made up)

Context

'O brahmin, these are excellent fruits. May prosperity be to you. Accept them and eat them without delay.'

Characters & Entities

courtesans (vāramukhyāḥ—implied in the episode)

Ṛ

ṛṣi (sage/ascetic; contextually Ṛśyaśṛṅga or his father)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Actions that may violate ascetic boundaries carry consequences; the verse underscores caution and accountability—recognizing potential adharma and withdrawing before harm escalates.

What is the narrative situation?

The women accept the ritual-like gifts and, fearing the sage’s reaction (notably the father’s arrival in context), decide to leave immediately to keep their plan concealed.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Strategic restraint—knowing when to disengage to avoid immediate conflict.