Shloka 8

रम्भा

प्रलोभनम् — Rambhā’s Temptation and Viśvāmitra’s Curse

Devanagari script

सा श्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य कृत्वा रूपमनुत्तमम्।लोभयामास ललिता विश्वामित्रं शुचिस्मिता।।1.64.8।।

Transliteration

sā śrutvā vacanaṃ tasya kṛtvā rūpam anuttamam |

lobhayāmāsa lalitā viśvāmitraṃ śucismitā || 1.64.8 ||

Translation

ਉਸ ਦੇ ਬਚਨ ਸੁਣ ਕੇ, ਰੰਭਾ ਨੇ ਅਨੁੱਤਮ ਰੂਪ ਧਾਰਨ ਕੀਤਾ; ਲਲਿਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਮੁਸਕਾਨ ਵਾਲੀ ਹੋ ਕੇ, ਉਹ ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਮਿਤ੍ਰ ਨੂੰ ਮੋਹਣ ਲੱਗ ਪਈ।

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययभाव (absolutive): having heard

• वचनम्: words; command
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having assumed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययभाव: having made/assumed

• रूपम्: a form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed; excellent
• अनुत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (रूपम्)

• लोभयामास: allured; enticed
• लोभयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लुभ् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिजन्त: caused to desire/allured

• ललिता: graceful; charming
• ललिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ललित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सा)

• विश्वामित्रम्: Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शुचिस्मिता: bright-smiling
• शुचिस्मिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि-स्मित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (शुचि स्मितं यस्याः) विशेषणम् (सा)

Context

'O Rambha have no fear. Feel safe. Carry out my order. When the trees look so beautiful in spring I shall in captivating the form of a cuckoo, stay by your side in the company of Kamadeva (Cupid).

Characters & Entities

• Rambhā
• Viśvāmitra
• Indra (implied by “his words”)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma here is the necessity of inner vigilance: external beauty can be intentionally used to provoke desire, so righteousness depends on mastery of mind rather than circumstances.

What is the narrative situation?

Rambhā obeys Indra’s instruction and begins the act of tempting Viśvāmitra by adopting extraordinary beauty.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Obedience to command is shown by Rambhā; the implied counter-virtue being tested is the sage’s restraint.