Shloka 23

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

Sanskrit

हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच विमुञ्च भद्रे सन्तापमयं तिष्ठति बालकः । उच्यतां वक्तुकामासि यद्वा त्वं गजगामिनि ॥

Transliteration

harīścandra uvāca vimuñca bhadre santāpamayaṃ tiṣṭhati bālakaḥ | ucyatāṃ vaktukāmāsi yadvā tvaṃ gajagāmini ||

Translation

Raja Harīścandra berkata: “Wahai wanita yang membawa keberuntungan, tinggalkanlah dukacita; anak itu berdiri di sini, ditimpa kesengsaraan. Katakanlah apa yang engkau hendak katakan—wahai yang melangkah dengan gaya seperti gajah.”

Word by Word

हरिश्चन्द्रःHarishchandra

उवाचsaid

विमुञ्चrelease/abandon

भद्रेO auspicious lady

सन्तापमयम्full of anguish

तिष्ठतिstands/remains

बालकःthe child

उच्यताम्let it be said / speak

वक्तुकामाdesirous to speak

असिyou are

यद्वाor else

त्वम्you

गजगामिनिO elephant-gaited one

Speakers

Harīścandra (addressing a woman; context suggests a compassionate appeal within the Harīścandra episode)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

Dharma (composure in adversity)Compassion toward the afflictedRoyal conduct and restraintDialogue in narrative literature

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse models dharmic composure and compassionate speech: grief should be set aside to address urgent suffering (the child’s distress), and one should speak clearly and purposefully rather than remain overwhelmed by emotion.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This is best classified under Vaṃśānucarita/Carita (dynastic and exemplary narratives) rather than Sarga/Pratisarga/Manvantara; it belongs to the Purana’s didactic-legendary material illustrating righteous conduct through royal exemplars.

What is the esoteric significance?

Symbolically, the ‘child afflicted by sorrow’ can represent the vulnerable jīva under duḥkha, while the king’s injunction to ‘release grief’ suggests turning from tamasic paralysis toward sattvic clarity—speech (vāk) and right action begin when lamentation is relinquished.