Shloka 4

शुनःशेफविक्रयः

The Sale of Śunaḥśepa for the Sacrifice

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा: पुष्करेषु महामुनि:।तप उग्रं दुराधर्षं तेपे मूलफलाशन:।।।।

Transliteration

evam uktvā mahātejāḥ puṣkareṣu mahāmuniḥ |

tapa ugraṃ durādharṣaṃ tepe mūlaphalāśanaḥ ||

Translation

असे बोलून महातेजस्वी महामुनी पुष्करात निवास करून, मूल-फळांचा आहार घेत, उग्र व दुर्धर्ष असे तप आचरू लागले।

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (manner adverb: 'thus')

• उक्त्वा: having spoken
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): 'having said'

• महातेजाः: the great-radiant one
• महातेजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महातेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुष्करेषु: at Puṣkara
• पुष्करेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• महामुनिः: the great sage
• महामुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उग्रम्: fierce; intense
• उग्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of तपः)

• दुराधर्षम्: hard to overpower; irresistible
• दुराधर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + आ-धृष् (धातु) → दुराधर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of तपः)

• तेपे: performed (austerity)
• तेपे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मूलफलाशनः: one who ate roots and fruits
• मूलफलाशनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल + फल + आशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ('one whose food is roots and fruits')

Context

"O Best among men! generally, the eldest sons are the favourites of their fathers, the youngest their mothers: For that reason, I shall keep my youngest son.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Puṣkara

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is strengthened through self-restraint and truthfulness in practice: tapas is not mere hardship, but disciplined integrity that makes one’s purpose ‘unassailable’.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration describes Viśvāmitra’s actual performance of severe austerities at Puṣkara, including his ascetic diet.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Austerity and endurance—steadfast self-control in pursuit of a higher aim.