Shloka 21

Adhyaya 65 — Svarocis Enjoys on the Mountain; A Debate on Marital Fidelity and Desire

Sanskrit

सुस्निग्धपीनावयवं मृगयूथविहारिणम् ।

वासिताभिः सुरूपाभिर्मृगीभिः परिवारितम् ॥

Transliteration

susnigdhapīnāvayavaṃ mṛgayūthavihāriṇam |

vāsitābhiḥ surūpābhir mṛgībhiḥ parivāritam ||

Translation

அவன் மிக மென்மையும் நிறைவுமுள்ள அங்கங்களைக் கொண்ட மானைக் கண்டான்; அது கூட்டத்தினுள் உலாவி, மணமிக்க அழகிய மான்களால் சூழப்பட்டிருந்தது।

Word by Word

• su-snigdha-pīna-avayavam: having very sleek and well-filled limbs
• su-snigdha-pīna-avayavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + snigdha (प्रातिपदिक) + pīna (प्रातिपदिक) + avayava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'whose limbs are very glossy and full' qualifying mṛgam (understood)

• mṛga-yūtha-vihāriṇam: roaming in a herd of deer
• mṛga-yūtha-vihāriṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + yūtha (प्रातिपदिक) + vihārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद: 'moving/roaming in a herd of deer'

• vāsitābhiḥ: by scented (does)
• vāsitābhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāsita (कृदन्त; √vās/√vas 'to scent/perfume')
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; qualifying mṛgībhiḥ: 'scented/perfumed'

• su-rūpābhiḥ: by beautiful (does)
• su-rūpābhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; 'beautiful' qualifying mṛgībhiḥ

• mṛgībhiḥ: by female deer
• mṛgībhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛgī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• parivāritam: surrounded
• parivāritam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√vṛ (धातु) → parivārita (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying mṛgam: 'surrounded'

Speakers

• Narrative voice

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shringara", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Allegory
• Sensual imagery
• Mirror of human desire
• Nature as instruction

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The scene deliberately parallels human sensual life: attractiveness and being surrounded by admirers is presented as a test, not an achievement.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Not pañcalakṣaṇa; descriptive narrative used for moral instruction.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘herd-life’ image can indicate saṃsāric circulation—beauty, scent, and company are transient lures that bind attention outward.