Shloka 16

Adhyāya 12: Devas’ Petition to Nahūṣa; Bṛhaspati on Śaraṇāgata-Dharma; Indrāṇī’s Strategic Delay

Devanagari script

ब॒हस्पतिरुवाच शरणागतं न त्यजेयमिन्द्राणि मम निश्चय: । धर्मज्ञां सत्यशीलां च न त्यजेयमनिन्दिते

Transliteration

bṛhaspatir uvāca śaraṇāgataṃ na tyajeyam indrāṇi mama niścayaḥ | dharmajñāṃ satyaśīlāṃ ca na tyajeyam anindite ||

Translation

ਬ੍ਰਿਹਸਪਤੀ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਇੰਦ੍ਰਾਣੀ! ਜੋ ਸ਼ਰਨ ਆਇਆ ਹੋਵੇ, ਮੈਂ ਉਸਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਤਿਆਗਾਂਗਾ; ਇਹ ਮੇਰਾ ਪੱਕਾ ਨਿਸ਼ਚਯ ਹੈ। ਹੇ ਨਿਰਦੋਸ਼ੇ! ਤੂੰ ਧਰਮ ਜਾਣਨ ਵਾਲੀ ਅਤੇ ਸੱਚ ਦੀ ਪਾਲਣਹਾਰ ਹੈਂ; ਇਸ ਲਈ ਮੈਂ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਛੱਡਾਂਗਾ।

Word by Word

• बृहस्पतिः: Brihaspati
• बृहस्पतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहस्पति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), Third, Singular

• शरणागतम्: one who has sought refuge
• शरणागतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरणागत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• त्यजेयम्: I should abandon / would abandon
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), First, Singular

• इन्द्राणि: O Indrani
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्राणी
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• मम: of me / my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• निश्चयः: decision, resolve
• निश्चयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्चय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मज्ञाम्: knowing dharma
• धर्मज्ञाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मज्ञा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• सत्यशीलाम्: truth-natured, of truthful conduct
• सत्यशीलाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यशील
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

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

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• त्यजेयम्: I should abandon / would abandon
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), First, Singular

• अनिन्दिते: O blameless one
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिन्दिता
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

शल्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhaspati
• Indrāṇī (Śacī)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse upholds the dharmic vow of protecting a śaraṇāgata (one who seeks refuge). Abandoning a supplicant is presented as ethically impermissible, and steadfastness in truth (satya) is affirmed as a guiding virtue.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhaspati addresses Indrāṇī, declaring his unwavering resolve not to forsake someone who has come seeking protection, and also not to forsake Indrāṇī herself, praising her as blameless, dharma-knowing, and truthful.