Shloka 81

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

Sanskrit

यथा भर्तृसमं नान्यमपश्यं पुरुषं क्वचित् ।

रूपतः शीलतो बुद्ध्या वाङ्माधुर्य्यादिभूषणैः ॥

Transliteration

yathā bhartṛ-samaṃ nānyam apaśyaṃ puruṣaṃ kvacit /

rūpataḥ śīlato buddhyā vāṅ-mādhuryy-ādi-bhūṣaṇaiḥ

Translation

ഞാൻ എവിടെയും ഒരിക്കലും എന്റെ ഭർത്താവിനോട് തുല്യനായ പുരുഷനെ കണ്ടിട്ടില്ല—രൂപത്തിൽ അല്ല, സ്വഭാവത്തിൽ അല്ല, ബുദ്ധിയിൽ അല്ല, മധുരവാക്യാദി അലങ്കാരങ്ങളിലും അല്ല।

Word by Word

• yathā: as, just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), comparative/conjunctive adverb (यथार्थ/उपमान)

• bhartṛ-samam: equal to (my) husband
• bhartṛ-samam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष ‘equal to (my) husband’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• anyam: another (man)
• anyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• apaśyam: I saw
• apaśyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, imperfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• puruṣam: man, person
• puruṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• kvacit: anywhere, ever
• kvacit: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (देश/काल)

• rūpataḥ: in appearance
• rūpataḥ: Hetu/Prakāra (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय) formed with -tas (तस्) taddhita; adverb ‘in respect of form’

• śīlataḥ: in character
• śīlataḥ: Hetu/Prakāra (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय) with -tas (तस्); adverb ‘in respect of conduct’

• buddhyā: by intellect; in intellect
• buddhyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• vāk-mādhurya-ādi-bhūṣaṇaiḥ: with ornaments like sweetness of speech, etc.
• vāk-mādhurya-ādi-bhūṣaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāk (प्रातिपदिक) + mādhurya (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष—‘with ornaments such as sweetness of speech etc.’

Speakers

• Likely the Brāhmaṇī/wife (contextual continuation from surrounding verses)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Marital devotion
• Truthful praise
• Qualities as ornaments (guṇa-bhūṣaṇa)
• Emotional sincerity

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse presents guṇas (virtues) as the true ‘ornaments’ of a person and underscores loyalty grounded in perceived excellence, not merely social obligation.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Character-focused narrative (vaṃśānucarita/upākhyāna style) serving dharma pedagogy; not a pancalakṣaṇa core.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘sweetness of speech’ and allied virtues indicate sattva; devotion to sattvic qualities is portrayed as a force that can invoke truth-power (satya) in the next verse.