Shloka 41

Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy

Devanagari script

अथोपविष्टयोस्तत्र मणिभद्रपुरोगमा: । निषेदुस्तत्र कौबेरा यक्षगन्धर्वकिन्नरा:,जब कुबेर और अष्टावक्र दोनों वहाँ आरामसे बैठ गये तब कुबेरके सेवक मणिभद्र आदि यक्ष, गन्धर्व और किन्नर भी नीचे बैठ गये

Transliteration

athopaviṣṭayostatra maṇibhadrapurogamāḥ | niṣedustatra kauberā yakṣagandharvakinnarāḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma berkata: Setelah Kubera dan Aṣṭāvakra duduk di situ dengan tenang, para pengiring Kubera—dipimpin oleh Maṇibhadra—iaitu para Yakṣa, Gandharva dan Kinnara, turut duduk berhampiran.

Word by Word

अथthen

उपविष्टयोःof the two who were seated

तत्रthere

मणिभद्रपुरोगमाःhaving Maṇibhadra in front (led by Maṇibhadra)

निषेदुःsat down

तत्रthere

कौबेराःKubera's (attendants)

यक्षगन्धर्वकिन्नराःYakṣas, Gandharvas, and Kinnaras

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Kubera

Aṣṭāvakra

Maṇibhadra

Yakṣas

Gandharvas

Kinnaras

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic decorum in an assembly: attendants and subordinates act with restraint and respect, taking their seats only after the principal figures are settled. Orderly conduct and honoring rank and guesthood are presented as ethical norms.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kubera and the sage Aṣṭāvakra sit down comfortably. After them, Kubera’s retinue—led by Maṇibhadra and consisting of Yakṣas, Gandharvas, and Kinnaras—also sit down, indicating the gathering has formally settled into place.