Shloka 44

Vṛddha-kanyā-carita and Balarāma’s Kurukṣetra Inquiry (वृद्धकन्या-चरितम् / कुरुक्षेत्रफल-प्रश्नः)

Devanagari script

कुर्वाणं संशितात्मानं स्वाध्यायमृषिसत्तमम्‌ | तदनन्तर उनमेंसे कोई ऋषि प्रतिदिन स्वाध्याय करनेवाले शुद्धात्मा मुनिवर सारस्वतके पास आये ।। स गत्वा5<चष्ट तेभ्यश्व॒ सारस्वतमतिप्रभम्‌

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca | kurvāṇaṃ saṃśitātmānaṃ svādhyāyam ṛṣisattamam | tadanantaraṃ teṣāṃ madhyād eka ṛṣiḥ pratidinaṃ svādhyāyakaraṇaśīlaḥ śuddhātmā munivaraḥ sārasvatasyāntikaṃ jagāma || sa gatvā caṣṭa tebhyaḥ sārasvatam atiprabhām ||

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ସେ ସମୟରେ ଋଷିଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, ସଂୟତାତ୍ମା ସାରସ୍ୱତ ପ୍ରତିଦିନ ସ୍ୱାଧ୍ୟାୟ କରୁଥିଲେ। ତାପରେ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରୁ ଜଣେ ମହର୍ଷି—ଶୁଦ୍ଧାତ୍ମା ଓ ନିତ୍ୟ ସ୍ୱାଧ୍ୟାୟପରାୟଣ—ତାଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଆସିଲେ। ସେଠାକୁ ଯାଇ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପ୍ରଭାବଶାଳୀ ସାରସ୍ୱତଙ୍କ ବିଷୟରେ ଅନ୍ୟ ଋଷିମାନଙ୍କୁ କହିଲେ।

Word by Word

कुर्वाणम्doing; performing

संशित-आत्मानम्of disciplined/self-controlled mind

स्वाध्यायम्Vedic study; recitation

ऋषि-सत्तमम्best of sages

तत्that

अनन्तरम्after that; thereafter

सःhe

गत्वाhaving gone

आचष्टtold; related; declared

तेभ्यःto them

सारस्वतम्Sarasvata (proper name)

अति-प्रभम्exceedingly radiant; very illustrious

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Sārasvata (sage)

an unnamed ṛṣi (sage)

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 svādhyāya (daily sacred study) and self-discipline as defining marks of a true sage: purity of mind and regular practice generate spiritual radiance and authority worthy of being reported to others.

What is happening in the narrative?

While Sārasvata is engaged in daily recitation, a pure and regular practitioner among the sages approaches him; afterward, he informs the others about Sārasvata’s exceptional brilliance and stature.