Shloka 18

Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy

Devanagari script

पाणितालसुतालै श्व शम्पातालै: समैस्तथा । सम्प्रहृष्टे: प्रनृत्यद्भि: शर्वस्तत्र निषेव्यते,वे करताल और सुन्दर ताल बजाकर शम्पा ताल देते हुए समभावसे हर्षविभोर हो जोर-जोरसे नृत्य करते हुए वहाँ भगवान्‌ शंकरकी सेवा करते हैं

Transliteration

pāṇitālasutālaiḥ śvaśampātālaiḥ samais tathā | samprahṛṣṭaiḥ pranṛtyadbhiḥ śarvas tatra niṣevyate ||

Translation

ਉਹ ਕਰਤਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਤਾਲ ਵਜਾ ਕੇ, ਸ਼ੰਪਾ-ਤਾਲ ਵੀ ਦੇਂਦੇ ਹੋਏ, ਸਮਭਾਵ ਨਾਲ ਖੁਸ਼ੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਭਰ ਕੇ ਜੋਸ਼ ਨਾਲ ਨੱਚਦੇ ਹਨ; ਅਤੇ ਉੱਥੇ ਸ਼ਰਵ (ਸ਼ਿਵ) ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ।

Word by Word

पाणितालसुतालैःwith hand-claps and good/pleasant rhythms

श्वशम्पातालैःwith (various) shva- and shampā-tālas (rhythmic patterns)

समैःwith even/regular (beats)

तथाand also; thus

सम्प्रहृष्टैःby/with those who are greatly delighted

प्रनृत्यद्भिःby/with those who are dancing

शर्वःŚarva (Śiva)

तत्रthere

निषेव्यतेis served/attended upon

Speaker

वदान्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śarva (Śiva)

pāṇitāla (hand-clapping rhythm)

sutāla (pleasant rhythm)

śampā-tāla (rhythmic pattern)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights devotion expressed through disciplined joy: worship is not only solemn but can be offered through music, rhythm, and dance, provided it remains measured (sama) and directed toward reverent service (niṣevā) of the deity.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group of devotees (implied by the plural participles) are clapping and keeping rhythmic cycles, giving the śampā-tāla beat, and dancing in exhilaration; through this celebratory performance they attend upon Śarva (Śiva) at that place.