Shloka 27

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

Sanskrit

पथि शूले तथा प्रोतं चौरं यौरशङ्कया ।

माण्डव्यमतिदुःखार्तमन्धकारेऽथ स द्विजः ॥

Transliteration

pathi śūle tathā protaṃ cauraṃ yauraśaṅkayā / māṇḍavyam atiduḥkhārtam andhakāre 'tha sa dvijaḥ

Translation

വഴിയിലെ ഇരുട്ടിൽ ആ ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ കൗശികൻ, സംശയത്താൽ കള്ളനെന്നു കരുതി കൂർത്ത കുന്തത്തിൽ കുത്തി കെട്ടിയ മാണ്ഡവ്യനെ കണ്ടു; അവൻ അതിതീവ്ര വേദനയിൽ പീഡിതനായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• पथि: on the path
• पथि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शूले: on a stake/spear
• शूले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: thus/so
• तथा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus/so)

• प्रोतम्: impaled/pierced
• प्रोतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रोत (प्रातिपदिक; प्र-√वे/√वय्?; क्त, 'threaded/impaled')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of चौरम्)

• चौरम्: a thief
• चौरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यौर-शङ्कया: due to suspicion (of theft)
• यौर-शङ्कया: Hetu (हेतु/Instrumental-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यौर + शङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (yauḥ-śaṅkā: suspicion of being a thief/robber; पाठदोषसम्भावना)

• माण्डव्यम्: Māṇḍavya
• माण्डव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माण्डव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम (proper name)

• अति-दुःख-आर्तम्: afflicted by extreme pain
• अति-दुःख-आर्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + दुःख + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (ati-duḥkhena ārtaḥ)

• अन्धकारे: in darkness
• अन्धकारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्धकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (particle: then/now)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• द्विजः: the brahmin
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrator

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Karmic consequence
• Power of tapas
• Injustice (punishment on suspicion)
• Speech as destiny (approaching curse)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The episode juxtaposes worldly justice (punishment by suspicion) with ascetic potency: when society errs, the injured tapasvin’s response can reshape the world—thus rulers must be meticulous in dharma.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Didactic episode; indirectly supports vaṃśānucarita by portraying consequences of adharma in governance and the extraordinary agency of sages.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘stake’ symbolizes the axis of karmic constraint; contact with it (even by accident) triggers latent saṃskāras and releases the force of śāpa (imprecatory speech).