Shloka 11
ययातिपतनम् — Yayāti’s Fall and the Offer of Dharma
Nārada’s Account
चरन्ती हरिणै: सार्थ मृगीव वनचारिणी । चचार विपुलं धर्म ब्रह्मचर्येण संवृतम्,इस क्रमसे माधवी वैदूर्यमणिके अंकुरोंके समान सुशोभित, कोमल, चिकनी, तिक्त, मधुर एवं हरी-हरी घास चरती, पवित्र नदियोंके शुद्ध, शीतल, निर्मल एवं सुस्वादु जल पीती और मृगोंके आवासभूत, व्याप्ररहित एवं दावानलशून्य निर्जन वनोंमें मृगोंके साथ वनचारिणी मृगीकी भाँति विचरण करती थी। उसने ब्रह्मचर्यपालनपूर्वक महान् धर्मका आचरण किया
carantī hariṇaiḥ sārthaṃ mṛgīvavanacāriṇī | cacāra vipulaṃ dharmaṃ brahmacaryeṇa saṃvṛtam ||
Nārada disse: Andando com os cervos, como uma corça que percorre a floresta, ela viveu no ermo e praticou um dharma vasto e elevado, guardado e sustentado pelo brahmacarya (casta continência).
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents brahmacarya (disciplined chastity and self-restraint) as a protective boundary that enables the practice of ‘vipula dharma’—a broad, elevated ethical life. Inner restraint is shown as the condition for sustained righteousness.
Nārada describes a woman living in the forest in the company of deer, roaming like a doe. Her wilderness life is portrayed as purposeful: she is engaged in serious dharma-practice, characterized and safeguarded by brahmacarya.