Shloka 17

आदि पर्व — अध्याय ८३: ययाति-इन्द्र-संवादः तथा अष्टक-प्रश्नः

Yayāti–Indra Dialogue and Aṣṭaka’s Inquiry

Devanagari script

रुदन्तस्ते5थ शर्मिष्ठामभ्ययुर्बालकास्तत: । श्र॒ुत्वा तु तेषां बालानं सब्रीड इव पार्थिव:,तब वे बालक रोते हुए शर्मिष्ठाके पास चले गये। उनकी बातें सुनकर राजा ययाति लज्जित-से हो गये

Transliteration

rudantas te 'tha śarmiṣṭhām abhyayur bālakās tataḥ | śrutvā tu teṣāṃ bālānāṃ sa-brīḍa iva pārthivaḥ ||

Translation

అప్పుడు ఆ బాలురు ఏడుస్తూ శర్మిష్ఠ దగ్గరకు వెళ్లారు. వారి మాటలు విని రాజు యయాతి లజ్జతో కుంగినవాడిలా అయ్యాడు.

Word by Word

रुदन्तःcrying, weeping

तेthey (those)

अथthen

शर्मिष्ठाम्Śarmiṣṭhā (name)

अभ्ययुःwent up to, approached

बालकाःboys, children

ततःthereupon, then

श्रुत्वाhaving heard

तुbut, indeed

तेषाम्of them

बालानाम्of the boys/children

सhe (that one)

ब्रीडःashamed, with shame

इवas if, like

पार्थिवःthe king

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Śarmiṣṭhā

Yayāti

the boys/children

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights moral accountability: the tears and testimony of the vulnerable (children) awaken shame in the ruler, implying that ethical lapses—especially by those in power—inevitably call forth inner remorse and demand rectification.

What is happening in the narrative?

The boys, crying, approach Śarmiṣṭhā and speak; upon hearing their words, King Yayāti feels ashamed, suggesting that their complaint or situation exposes something improper that has occurred and prompts the king’s embarrassed self-awareness.