Shloka 6

कच-देवयानी संवादः

Kaca–Devayānī Dialogue and the Curse on Vidyā

Devanagari script

गृद्धां वाससि सम्भ्रान्तां मेनकां मुनिसत्तम: । अनिर्देश्यवयोरूपामपश्यद्‌ विवृतां तदा

Transliteration

gṛddhāṃ vāsasi sambhrāntāṃ menakāṃ munisattamaḥ | anirdeśyavayorūpām apaśyad vivṛtāṃ tadā ||

Translation

అప్పుడు మునిశ్రేష్ఠుడు మేనకను చూచెను—ఆమె భయంతో కలవరపడినది, వస్త్రము చెదిరినది; ఆమె యౌవనరూపములు వర్ణనాతీతమై, ఆ క్షణమున అతని ముందర బహిర్గతమై నిలిచెను.

Word by Word

गृद्धाम्agitated/afflicted (f.)

वाससिin (her) garment/clothing

सम्भ्रान्ताम्confused, flustered (f.)

मेनकाम्Menakā

मुनिसत्तमःthe best of sages

अनिर्देश्य-वयः-रूपाम्whose age and beauty were indescribable (f.)

अपश्यत्saw

विवृताम्uncovered, revealed (f.)

तदाthen, at that time

Speaker

कण्व उवाच

Characters & Entities

क

कण्व (Kaṇva)

म

मेनका (Menakā)

म

मुनिसत्तम (a foremost sage; contextually Kaṇva)

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 a moral test: when confronted with another’s sudden exposure and distress, the righteous response is governed by self-control, clarity, and compassion rather than impulse. It frames beauty and vulnerability as occasions for ethical discernment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kaṇva, described as the foremost of sages, sees Menakā in a startled, disheveled state, her garment disturbed and her appearance revealed. The narration sets up the circumstances that will shape how the sage responds to her situation.