Shloka 74

Adhyaya 8 — Harishchandra’s Trial: Truth, the Sale of Family, and Bondage to a Chandala

Sanskrit

क्षत्रबन्धो! ममेमां त्वं सदृशीं यज्ञदक्षिणाम् ।

मन्यसे यदि तत्क्षिप्रं पश्य त्वं मे बलं परम् ॥

Transliteration

kṣatrabandho! mamemāṃ tvaṃ sadṛśīṃ yajñadakṣiṇām | manyase yadi tat kṣipraṃ paśya tvaṃ me balaṃ param ||

Translation

ಹೇ ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯರ ಅಪಕೀರ್ತಿ! ನನಗೆ ವಿಧಿಯಾಗಿ ಸಲ್ಲಬೇಕಾದ ಈ ಯಜ್ಞದಕ್ಷಿಣೆಯನ್ನು ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಲು ನೀನು ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು ಯೋಗ್ಯನೆಂದು ಭಾವಿಸಿದರೆ, ತಕ್ಷಣವೇ ನನ್ನ ಪರಮ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ನೋಡು.

Word by Word

• क्षत्रबन्धो: O kshatriya-wretch / O kshatriya by name
• क्षत्रबन्धो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रबन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; समासः—क्षत्रस्य बन्धुः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

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

• इमाम्: this (female object)
• इमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सदृशीम्: similar, fitting
• सदृशीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (इमाम्/यज्ञदक्षिणाम् प्रति)

• यज्ञदक्षिणाम्: sacrificial fee / priestly gift
• यज्ञदक्षिणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—यज्ञस्य दक्षिणा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• मन्यसे: you think / consider
• मन्यसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• यदि: if
• यदि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक-समुच्चय/निपात (conditional particle)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (object/that)

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन प्रयुक्तं क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial accusative)

• पश्य: see!
• पश्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (पुनरुक्त-सम्बोधन/बलार्थ)

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

• बलम्: power, strength
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme, highest
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (बलम् प्रति)

Speakers

• Devī (as Caṇḍikā/Durgā) addressing a demon/hostile warrior in the battle narrative

Primary Deities

• Devī (Caṇḍikā/Durgā)

Shakti Aspects

• Caṇḍikā (battle-form of Devī; martial
• wrathful aspect)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Divine sovereignty
• Humbling of demonic pride
• Yajña symbolism (dakṣiṇā as rightful due)
• Valor and true kṣatriya-dharma

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse condemns empty status and inherited titles when unaccompanied by inner worth. By calling the adversary ‘kṣatrabandhu’, Devī exposes the gap between true kṣatriya-dharma (courage, protection of dharma, restraint) and demonic aggression. Ethically, it teaches that entitlement to honor (dakṣiṇā) must be grounded in merit and righteousness, not force or pride.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily within Vaṃśānucarita/Carita (narrative of deeds) as part of the Devī’s exploit narrative; secondarily it touches Dharma through the yajña-dakṣiṇā motif (rightful due). It is not a sarga/pratisarga cosmology verse, nor a manvantara enumeration verse.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Yajña-dakṣiṇā’ symbolizes the rightful offering of ego, power, and fruits of action to the Divine. The demon’s claim to be ‘worthy’ mirrors the ego’s appropriation of spiritual merit. Devī’s command—‘behold my supreme power’—signals the revelation that all śakti (capacity, victory, agency) ultimately belongs to the Goddess; when that truth is unveiled, pride collapses.