Shloka 17

Devanagari script

निष्प्रभा च विवर्णा च सन्ना शोकेन सन्नता।न व्यराजत कौसल्या तारेव तिमिरावृता।।।।

Transliteration

niṣprabhā ca vivarṇā ca sannā śokena sannatā |

na vyarājata kausalyā tāreva timirāvṛtā ||

Translation

Kauśalyā menjadi suram dan pucat, tenggelam dalam dukacita hingga tubuhnya lemah; sinarnya tidak lagi menyerlah—laksana bintang diselubungi kegelapan.

Word by Word

• निष्प्रभा: lustreless
• निष्प्रभा: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक; निस् + प्रभ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (कौसल्या)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• विवर्णा: pale/discoloured
• विवर्णा: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (कौसल्या)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• सन्ना: sunken/depressed
• सन्ना: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सद् (धातु) + क्त
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'sunken/depressed'

• शोकेन: by sorrow
• शोकेन: करण (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• सन्नता: bent/contracted
• सन्नता: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-नम् (धातु) + क्त
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'bent/contracted'

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध

• व्यराजत: shone
• व्यराजत: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-राज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थ: 'shone'

• कौसल्या: Kausalya
• कौसल्या: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तारा: a star
• तारा: उपमान (Upamāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

• इव: like
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Comparative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमा-निपात (like/as)

• तिमिरावृता: covered by darkness
• तिमिरावृता: उपमान-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिमिर-आवृत (प्रातिपदिक; तिमिर + आवृत)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (तिमिरेण आवृता = covered by darkness); विशेषण (तारा)

Context

Kausalya, with her face dull and pallid, sank down, her limbs contracted. She looked lustreless like stars enveloped in darkness.

Characters & Entities

• Kauśalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma includes honoring emotional truth: the epic does not deny grief but records it faithfully, teaching that righteousness is lived by real people with real sorrow.

What is the narrative situation?

Kauśalyā is shown physically transformed by grief, foreshadowing the crisis unfolding in the palace.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sincerity of feeling (anṛśaṃsya/compassionate realism): the text treats suffering with dignity rather than spectacle.