Shloka 20

Devanagari script

शक्र उवाच अहं वै त्वां निधास्यामि यथाशक्ति यथाबलम्‌ । न तु मे5तिक्रमः स्याद्‌ वै सदा लक्षिमि तवान्तिके,इन्द्रने कहा--लक्ष्मी! मैं शारीरिक बल और मानसिक शक्तिके अनुसार तुम्हें धारण करूँगा, किंतु तुम्हारे निकट कभी मेरा परित्याग न हो

Transliteration

śakra uvāca: ahaṃ vai tvāṃ nidhāsyāmi yathāśakti yathābalam | na tu me 'tikramaḥ syād vai sadā lakṣmi tavāntike ||

Translation

శక్రుడు పలికెను—లక్ష్మీ! నా శక్తి, నా సామర్థ్యమునుబట్టి నిన్ను నేను ధారించెదను, పోషించెదను. కాని నా వైపు నుండి ఏ అతిక్రమమూ కలుగకూడదు; నీవు సదా నా సమీపమందే ఉండుము, నేను నిన్ను విడువకుందును.

Word by Word

शक्रःŚakra (Indra)

उवाचsaid

अहम्I

वैindeed

त्वाम्you

निधास्यामिI shall place/establish (keep, hold)

यथा-शक्तिaccording to (my) ability

यथा-बलम्according to (my) strength

नnot

तुbut

मेof me / my

अतिक्रमःtransgression, overstepping (fault)

स्यात्may be / should occur

वैindeed

सदाalways

लक्ष्मिO Lakṣmī

तवof you / your

अन्तिकेin (your) presence, near (you)

Speaker

शक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śakra (Indra)

Lakṣmī

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?

Prosperity (Lakṣmī) is to be upheld within one’s real capacity and strength, but it must be guarded by restraint and non-transgression (atikrama). Ethical self-limitation and fidelity to dharma are presented as conditions for fortune’s stable presence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śakra (Indra) addresses Lakṣmī, promising to sustain her as far as his power allows, while also pledging not to overstep proper bounds. The exchange frames Lakṣmī’s nearness as dependent on the ruler’s disciplined conduct and avoidance of wrongdoing.