Shloka 16

Adhyaya 16 — The Son’s Counsel on Renunciation and the Anasuya–Mandavya Episode: The Suspension of Sunrise and the Power of Pativrata

Sanskrit

श्लेष्म-मूत्र-पुरीषासृक्-प्रवाहक्षालनॆन च । रहश्चैवोपचारॆण प्रियसम्भाषणॆन च ॥

Transliteration

śleṣma-mūtra-purīṣāsṛk-pravāhakṣālanena ca / rahaścaivopacāreṇa priyasambhāṣaṇena ca

Translation

കഫം, മൂത്രം, മല, രക്തം എന്നിവയുടെ സ്രാവങ്ങൾ കഴുകി നീക്കി; സ്വകാര്യമായി പരിചരിച്ച്; സ്നേഹപൂർണ്ണ വാക്കുകളാൽ എപ്പോഴും അവനോട് സംസാരിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• श्लेष्म: phlegm
• श्लेष्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लेष्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषे पूर्वपद (stem form in compound)

• मूत्र: urine
• मूत्र: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषे पूर्वपद (compound member)

• पुरीष: feces
• पुरीष: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषे पूर्वपद (compound member)

• असृक्: blood
• असृक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असृज्/असृक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषे पूर्वपद (compound member)

• प्रवाहक्षालनेन: by washing away the discharges/flows
• प्रवाहक्षालनेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवाह-क्षालन (प्रातिपदिक: प्रवाह + क्षालन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; साधन/करण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात

• रहः: in private/secretly
• रहः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रहस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (indeclinable use); क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• उपचारेण: with treatment/attendance
• उपचारेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; साधन/करण

• प्रियसम्भाषणेन: with pleasant conversation
• प्रियसम्भाषणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय-सम्भाषण (प्रातिपदिक: प्रिय + सम्भाषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; साधन/करण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

Speakers

• Son → Father (narration continues)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Compassionate service
• Impurity and duty
• Gentle speech (vāg-dharma)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The text emphasizes that true devotion and duty are tested in the most difficult, socially ‘unpleasant’ tasks; kindness in speech is paired with physical care as part of complete dharma.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

An ethical exemplum (ākhyāna) illustrating dharma; not a pancalakṣaṇa cosmological unit.

What is the esoteric significance?

Handling impurity without aversion points to inner purification: rāga-dveṣa (attachment/aversion) are confronted directly; ‘private service’ suggests humility and egolessness rather than public piety.