Shloka 17

ययाति-देवयानी-शर्मिष्ठा विवादः — Śukra’s Curse and the Disclosure of Lineage

Devanagari script

सान्त्वयित्वा नृपश्रेष्ठ: साम्ना परमवल्गुना । का त्वं ताम्रनखी श्यामा सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डला,नृपश्रेष्ठ ययातिने पहले परम मधुर वचनोंद्वारा शान्तभावसे उसे आश्वासन दिया और कहा--“तुम कौन हो? तुम्हारे नख लाल-लाल हैं। तुम षोडशी जान पड़ती हो। तुम्हारे कानोंके मणिमय कुण्डल अत्यन्त सुन्दर और चमकीले हैं

Transliteration

sāntvayitvā nṛpaśreṣṭhaḥ sāmnā paramavalgūnā | kā tvaṃ tāmranakhī śyāmā sumṛṣṭamaṇikuṇḍalā ||

Translation

ନୃପଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ପ୍ରଥମେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ମଧୁର ଓ ଶାନ୍ତ ବଚନରେ ତାକୁ ସାନ୍ତ୍ୱନା ଦେଇ କହିଲେ—“ତୁମେ କିଏ? ତୁମ ନଖ ତାମ୍ରବର୍ଣ୍ଣ; ତୁମେ ଶ୍ୟାମା; ଏବଂ ତୁମ ମଣିମୟ କୁଣ୍ଡଳ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ସୁନ୍ଦର ଭାବେ ମସୃଣ ଓ ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ।”

Word by Word

• सान्त्वयित्वा: having consoled/comforted
• सान्त्वयित्वा: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: सान्त्वय् (धातु: सान्त्वयति < सान्त्व्/सान्त्वय्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि, —, —, —

• नृपश्रेष्ठः: the best of kings
• नृपश्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपश्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• साम्ना: with conciliation / by gentle words
• साम्ना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• परमवल्गुना: with exceedingly sweet/pleasant (speech)
• परमवल्गुना: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमवल्गु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• का: who (f.)
• का: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: —, Nominative, Singular

• ताम्रनखी: she whose nails are copper-red
• ताम्रनखी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्रनखिन्/ताम्रनखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• श्यामा: dark-complexioned
• श्यामा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डला: she who has well-polished/beautiful jeweled earrings
• सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डला: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana (speaker)
• nṛpaśreṣṭha (the best of kings; the king addressed in context)
• a young woman described as tāmranakhī śyāmā sumṛṣṭamaṇikuṇḍalā
• maṇikuṇḍala (jeweled earrings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse models dharmic conduct in interpersonal situations: an ideal ruler first pacifies fear or distress through sāman (conciliatory, gentle speech) and then asks questions respectfully. Ethical authority is shown as self-restraint, empathy, and courteous inquiry rather than force.

What is happening in the narrative?

A king, described as nṛpaśreṣṭha, reassures a young woman and addresses her with very sweet words, asking who she is while noting her striking features—copper-red nails, dark complexion, and shining jeweled earrings—setting up her identification and the next turn of the story.