Shloka 22

Omens and Consolation after Loss; Reaffirmation of the Saindhava Punishment Vow (उत्पात-दर्शनम्, आश्वासन-वाक्यानि, प्रतिज्ञा-स्थैर्यम्)

Devanagari script

सा पूर्व कौशिकीं पुण्यां जगाम नियमैधिता । तत्र वायुजलाहारा चचार नियमं पुन:,इस प्रकार नन्दानदीमें नियमोंके पालनपूर्वक रहकर वह निष्पाप हो गयी। तदनन्तर व्रत-नियमोंसे सम्पन्न हो मृत्यु पहले पुण्यमयी कौशिकीनदीके तटपर गयी और वहाँ वायु तथा जलका आहार करती हुई पुन: कठोर नियमोंका पालन करने लगी

Transliteration

sā pūrvaṃ kauśikīṃ puṇyāṃ jagāma niyamaiḥ dhitā | tatra vāyu-jalāhārā cacāra niyamaṃ punaḥ ||

Translation

सा पूर्वं कौशिकीं पुण्यां जगाम नियमैधिता । तत्र वायुजलाहारा चचार नियमं पुनः ॥

Word by Word

साshe

पूर्वम्formerly/first

कौशिकीम्to the (river) Kauśikī

पुण्याम्holy/meritorious

जगामwent

नियमैःby/with observances (vows, restraints)

धिताendowed/maintained (i.e., strengthened)

तत्रthere

वायु-जल-आहाराhaving air and water as food

चचारpractised/performed

नियमम्observance/vow

पुनःagain

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Kauśikī (river)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights niyama (disciplined observance) and tapas (austerity) as ethical tools for inner purification and steadiness—showing that sustained self-restraint, not mere intention, is portrayed as transformative.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada describes a woman who, having already become strengthened by vows, goes to the sacred Kauśikī river and continues her austerities there, living on only air and water while observing strict disciplines again.