Shloka 55

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

Sanskrit

कर्मण्यता-वयो-रूप-शीलानां तव योषितः ।

अनुरूपमिदं वित्तं गृहाणार्पय मेऽबलाम् ॥

Transliteration

karmaṇyatā-vayo-rūpa-śīlānāṃ tava yoṣitaḥ /

anurūpam idaṃ vittaṃ gṛhāṇa arpaya me 'balām

Translation

ഹേ ദേവീ, പ്രവർത്തനകൗശലമുള്ള, യൗവനസമ്പന്നമായ, സൗന്ദര്യവും സദാചാരവും ഉള്ള നിങ്ങളുടെ സ്ത്രീകൾക്ക് യോജിച്ച ഈ ധനം സ്വീകരിക്കണമേ. ഞാൻ എന്റെ കന്യയെ (മകളെ) നിങ്ങള്ക്ക് സമർപ്പിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• कर्मण्यता-वयः-रूप-शीलानाम्: of (their) capability in work, age, beauty, and character
• कर्मण्यता-वयः-रूप-शीलानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मण्यता + वयस् + रूप + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (copulative aggregate) ततः षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), बहुवचन (Plural); नपुंसक/पुं-समासान्त-समूहार्थ (collective sense)

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun); षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• योषितः: women
• योषितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अनुरूपम्: suitable
• अनुरूपम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• वित्तम्: wealth
• वित्तम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• गृहाण: accept
• गृहाण: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• अर्पय: hand over / offer
• अर्पय: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्पय्/अर्प् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

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

• अबलाम्: the helpless woman (my wife)
• अबलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अबला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speakers

• A devotee/kingly figure addressing Devī (as part of the Devi Mahatmyam narrative). (Exact named speaker depends on recension/edition.)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Devī (Caṇḍikā/Ambikā)

Shakti Aspects

• Devī as the supreme Goddess receiving praise and offerings (general Chandikā/ Ambikā context of Devi Mahatmyam)

Key Themes

• Bhakti
• Dāna (offering)
• Stuti (praise)
• Protection by Devī
• Ritual exchange and gratitude

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse expresses kṛtajñatā (gratitude) and devotional reciprocity: after receiving protection, the devotee responds with offerings aligned to dharma. Ethically, it highlights honoring the divine source of safety and prosperity through appropriate giving (anurūpa-dāna), though later dharma traditions would scrutinize any implication of “offering a person” and prefer interpreting it as dedicatory service or symbolic surrender rather than literal transfer.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This belongs primarily to Vaṃśānucarita/Carita (narrative of deeds) within the Purāṇic framework—specifically the Devi Mahatmyam’s theological-heroic episode—rather than Sarga/Pratisarga or Manvantara. It functions as devotional closure within a battle narrative.

What is the esoteric significance?

Symbolically, “wealth” represents external resources and “the maiden” can represent one’s inner potency/attention (śakti) offered back to Śakti—i.e., surrender of both outer possessions and inner agency to the Divine Mother. The listed qualities (skill, youth, beauty, virtue) can be read as the refined faculties of the practitioner, dedicated to the Goddess for right use.