Shloka 37

Adhyaya 70 — The King Confronts the Rakshasa and Restores the Brahmin’s Wife

Sanskrit

राक्षस उवाच प्रापयामि तवादेशादिमां भर्तृगृहं प्रभो ।

यदन्यत्करणीयन्ते तदाज्ञापय पार्थिव ॥

Transliteration

rākṣasa uvāca prāpayāmi tavādeśād imāṃ bhartṛgṛhaṃ prabho / yad anyat karaṇīyante tad ājñāpaya pārthiva

Translation

ராக்ஷசன் கூறினான்—பிரபுவே, உங்கள் ஆணையின்படி இந்தப் பெண்ணை அவள் கணவரின் இல்லத்திற்குக் கொண்டு சேர்ப்பேன். மேலும் செய்ய வேண்டியது எதுவாயினும் ஆணையிடுங்கள், அரசே.

Word by Word

• rākṣasaḥ: the rākṣasa (demon)
• rākṣasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• prāpayāmi: I will convey/bring
• prāpayāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + ā + √nī (धातु) causative (णिच्)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular; causative meaning

• tava: of you/your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• ādeśāt: by/according to (your) command
• ādeśāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• imām: this (woman)
• imām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• bhartṛ-gṛham: to the husband's house
• bhartṛ-gṛham: Karma (कर्म) (destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: भर्तुः गृहम्

• prabho: O lord
• prabho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• yat: whatever
• yat: Karma (कर्म) (of karaṇīyam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; relative pronoun introducing clause

• anyat: other (thing)
• anyat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; used with yat

• karaṇīyam: to be done
• karaṇīyam: Kriyā (क्रिया) (obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + anīya (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Gerundive/obligatory participle (अनीयर्/अनीया), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; predicate adjective

• te: for you/to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; correlative to yat

• ājñāpaya: command/order
• ājñāpaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + √jñā (धातु) causative (णिच्)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

• pārthiva: O king
• pārthiva: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārthiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

Speakers

• Rākṣasa to the King (within Markandeya’s narration)

Key Themes

• Royal authority
• Restitution
• Transformation/discipline of the violent
• Protection of the vulnerable

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even a fearsome being can be bound to dharma through rightful authority and repentance. The king’s role includes ensuring restitution and safeguarding social order.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Manvantara-linked narrative illustrating dharma in practice; it functions as moral instruction embedded in a genealogical/epochal frame.

What is the esoteric significance?

The rākṣasa represents untamed force; when subordinated to dharmic command, the same force becomes protective rather than predatory—an allegory for mastering impulses.