Shloka 54

Devanagari script

सा धर्मतो<नुनीयैनां कथंचिद्‌ धर्मचारिणीम्‌ | भोजयामास वितष्रांश्र देवर्षीनतिथींस्तथा,कौसल्या धर्मका आचरण करनेवाली थी। सत्यवतीने धर्मको सामने रखकर ही उसे किसी प्रकार समझा-बुझाकर (बड़ी कठिनतासे) इस कार्यके लिये तैयार किया। उसके बाद ब्राह्मणों, देवर्षियों तथा अतिथियोंको भोजन कराया

Transliteration

sā dharmato 'nunīyaināṁ kathaṁcid dharmacāriṇīm | bhojayāmāsa vīta-tṛṣṇān devarṣīn atithīṁs tathā ||

Translation

Então, tendo o dharma em vista, ela de algum modo persuadiu aquela mulher devotada à conduta reta. Depois, ofereceu alimento aos brâmanes, aos rishis divinos livres de cobiças mundanas e também aos hóspedes—cumprindo assim o dever ético da hospitalidade e a devida correção religiosa.

Word by Word

साshe

धर्मतःfrom/according to dharma; on grounds of righteousness

अनुनीयhaving persuaded

एनाम्her

कथंचित्somehow; with difficulty

धर्मचारिणीम्a woman who practices dharma

भोजयामासcaused to eat; fed

विततान्spread out; arranged (i.e., seated/assembled)

देवर्षीन्divine seers

अतिथीन्guests

तथाalso; likewise

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

devarṣi (divine seers)

atithi (guests)

brāhmaṇa (Brahmins, implied by the context of feeding)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is upheld not only through major vows but through concrete acts: persuading others without coercion and honoring Brahmins, seers, and guests through proper hospitality. Ethical action is shown as alignment with righteous duty and social-religious responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker narrates that a woman, guided by dharma, manages—though with difficulty—to persuade another righteous woman to agree to a certain course of action; afterward she performs the customary duty of feeding Brahmins, divine seers, and guests, emphasizing ritual propriety and hospitality.