Shloka 18

Adhyaya 44 — Subahu’s Counsel to the King of Kashi and Alarka’s Renunciation through Yoga

Sanskrit

काशिराज उवाच उपकारस्त्वया साधोः अलर्कस्य कृतो महान् ।

ममोपकाराय कथं न करोṣi स्वमानसम् ॥

Transliteration

kāśirāja uvāca upakāras tvayā sādhoḥ alarkasya kṛto mahān / mamopakārāya kathaṃ na karoṣi svamānasam //

Translation

കാശിയുടെ രാജാവ് പറഞ്ഞു: നിങ്ങൾ സദാചാരസമ്പന്നനായ അലർക്ക മുനിവരന് വലിയ ഉപകാരം ചെയ്തു. എന്നാൽ എനിക്ക് സഹായം ചെയ്യാൻ അതുപോലെ നിങ്ങളുടെ മനസ്സിനെ എന്തുകൊണ്ട് തിരിക്കുന്നില്ല?

Word by Word

• kāśirājaḥ: the king of Kāśī
• kāśirājaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāśī-rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (kāśyāḥ rājā); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लकारः लिट् (Perfect), पुरुषः प्रथम (3rd), वचनम् एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• upakāraḥ: help/favor
• upakāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upakāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• sādhoḥ: of the good man
• sādhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• alarkasya: of Alarka
• alarkasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: alarka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• kṛtaḥ: done
• kṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः क्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• mahān: great
• mahān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• upakārāya: for (my) benefit
• upakārāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upakāra (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन

• katham: how/why
• katham: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• karoṣi: you do
• karoṣi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लकारः लट् (Present), पुरुषः मध्यम (2nd), वचनम् एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• sva-mānasam: your own mind/heart
• sva-mānasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारयः (sva-mānasam = one's own mind/heart); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speakers

• Kāśirāja speaking to Subāhu

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Gratitude
• Seeking instruction
• Reciprocity
• Royal inquiry

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The king recognizes the value of wise aid and explicitly requests guidance. The verse models humility in rulership: seeking instruction rather than presuming sufficiency.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Narrative dialogue; not pancalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Turning the mind’ (svamānasa) suggests that true benefaction is intentional transmission—attention and teaching—rather than material charity.