Shloka 15

शुनःशेफविक्रयः

The Sale of Śunaḥśepa for the Sacrifice

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तो महातेजा ऋचीकस्त्वब्रवीद्वच:।।।।नाहं ज्येष्ठं नरश्रेष्ठ विक्रीणीयां कथञ्चन।

Transliteration

evam ukto mahātejā ṛcīkas tv abravīd vacaḥ | nāhaṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ naraśreṣṭha vikrīṇīyāṃ kathañcana ||

Translation

Так обращённый, сияющий Ричика ответил: «О лучший из людей, ни при каких обстоятельствах я не продам своего старшего сына».

Word by Word

• ऋचीकस्य: of Ṛcīka
• ऋचीकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋचीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वचः: words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of śrutvā

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘of them’

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; subject

• महात्मनाम्: of the great-souled
• महात्मनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; genitive qualifier of teṣām (‘of great-souled ones’)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नरशार्दूलम्: the tiger among men
• नरशार्दूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object/addressee of speech; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘नराणां शार्दूलः’)

• अम्बरीषम्: Ambarīṣa
• अम्बरीषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; in apposition to naraśārdūlam

• तपस्विनी: the ascetic woman
• तपस्विनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective-noun for the mother

Context

Thus addressed the exceedingly brilliant Richika said, "O Best among men! in no way shall I sell my first born".

Characters & Entities

• Ṛcīka
• King Ambarīṣa

FAQs

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

Dharma as moral boundary: a father’s duty to protect his child cannot be reduced to a commercial exchange, even for a king’s ritual need.

What is the narrative situation?

Ṛcīka responds to the king’s offer by refusing to sell his firstborn.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Firmness in principle and truthfulness—Ṛcīka states an unambiguous refusal grounded in duty.