Shloka 93

Kurukṣetra–Samantapañcaka Māhātmya: King Kuru’s Ploughing and Indra’s Boon (प्रजापतेरुत्तरवेदिः समन्तपञ्चकं)

Devanagari script

वार्थकेन च राजेन्द्र तपसा चैव कर्शिता । राजेन्द्र! परिश्रमसे थक जानेपर भी वह अपने-आपको कृतार्थ मानती रही। धीरे-धीरे बुढ़ापा और तपस्याने उसे दुर्बल बना दिया

Transliteration

vārthakena ca rājendra tapasā caiva karśitā |

Translation

ਰਾਜੇਂਦ੍ਰ! ਵਧਦੀ ਉਮਰ ਅਤੇ ਤਪੱਸਿਆ—ਦੋਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਖ਼ਸਤਾਹਾਲ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ। ਮਿਹਨਤ ਨਾਲ ਥੱਕ ਜਾਣ ਤੇ ਵੀ ਉਹ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ ਨੂੰ ਕ੍ਰਿਤਾਰਥ ਮੰਨਦੀ ਰਹੀ; ਹੌਲੇ-ਹੌਲੇ ਬੁਢਾਪੇ ਅਤੇ ਤਪੱਸਿਆ ਨੇ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਕਮਜ਼ੋਰ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ।

Word by Word

• वृद्धकेन: by old age
• वृद्धकेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

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

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

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

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• कर्शिता: emaciated/weakened
• कर्शिता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृश् (धातु) → कर्शित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• rājendra (addressed king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical ideal of steadfastness: one may pursue tapas and duty with inner contentment, yet the body remains subject to decline. It implicitly balances spiritual resolve with recognition of human limitation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes a woman’s condition to the king: she has continued her austere practice and effort, feeling inwardly accomplished, but over time age and ascetic hardship have made her physically weak.