Shloka 35

मोक्षोपाय-निर्णयः

Determination of the Means to Liberation

Devanagari script

अथ प्रथमकल्पेन सत्यवन्‌ संकरो भवेत्‌ | आयु: शक्ति च कालं॑ च निर्दिश्य तप आदिशेत्‌

Transliteration

atha prathamakalpena satyavān saṅkaro bhavet | āyuḥ śaktiṃ ca kālaṃ ca nirdiśya tapa ādiśet |

Translation

ଦ୍ୟୁମତ୍ସେନ କହିଲେ— ତେବେ ପ୍ରଥମ (ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ମୃଦୁ) ପ୍ରକ୍ରିୟାରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସତ୍ୟବାନ ପରି ପୁରୁଷ ଧର୍ମ-ଅଧର୍ମର ସଂକରରେ ପଡ଼ିପାରେ। ତେଣୁ ଦଣ୍ଡନୀୟ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିର ଆୟୁ, ଶକ୍ତି ଓ କାଳ-ପରିସ୍ଥିତି ବିଚାର କରି ରାଜା ଯଥୋଚିତ ଦଣ୍ଡରୂପ ତପ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ କରୁନ୍ତୁ।

Word by Word

• अथ: then/now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• प्रथम-कल्पेन: by/according to the first procedure/arrangement
• प्रथम-कल्पेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रथमकल्प
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• सत्यवान्: Satyavān
• सत्यवान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• संकरः: mixture/confusion
• संकरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संकर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भवेत्: would be/should occur
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Optative, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• आयुः: lifespan
• आयुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• शक्तिम्: strength/capacity
• शक्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• कालम्: time/occasion
• कालम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• निर्दिश्य: having considered/indicated
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्दिश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• तपः: penance/austerity
• तपः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आदिशेत्: should prescribe/should order
• Type: Verb
• Root: आदिश्
• Form: Optative, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

हुमत्सेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Humatsena
• Satyavān
• king (rājā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Punishment should be proportionate and context-sensitive: the ruler must weigh the offender’s age/lifespan, strength/capacity, and the time/circumstances, and then prescribe a corrective discipline (tapas) that prevents a harmful mixing of dharma and adharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Humatsena is instructing on rajadharma (the king’s duty of governance). He warns that even a ‘Satyavān’ can slip into moral confusion, so the king must respond with measured, appropriate punishment after assessing relevant personal and situational factors.