Shloka 31

Adhyaya 18 — Arjuna Declines the Throne; Garga Directs Him to Dattatreya; The Gods Defeat the Daityas through Dattatreya’s Vision and the Movement of Lakshmi

Sanskrit

स्त्रीसम्भोगो हि दोषाय सातत्येनोपसेवितः ।

एवमुक्तास्ततो देवाḥ पुनर्वचनमब्रुवन् ॥

Transliteration

strī-sambhogo hi doṣāya sātatyenopasevitaḥ |

evam uktās tato devāḥ punar vacanam abruvan ||

Translation

స్త్రీలతో కామభోగాసక్తి నిరంతరం అనుసరించబడితే నిశ్చయంగా దోషానికి దారి తీస్తుంది. ఇలా చెప్పబడిన తరువాత దేవులు మళ్లీ పలికారు.

Word by Word

• स्त्री-सम्भोगः: sexual union with a woman
• स्त्री-सम्भोगः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री + सम्भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्त्रियाः सम्भोगः)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• दोषाय: for (causing) fault
• दोषाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient-purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन

• सातत्येन: with continuity/constantly
• सातत्येन: करण (Karaṇa/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सातत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• उपसेवितः: practised/indulged in
• उपसेवितः: कर्तृविशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-सेव् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• उक्ताः: having been spoken to/addressed
• उक्ताः: कर्तृविशेषण (Qualifier of देवाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: अधिकरण/काल (Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: from there/then)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: again)

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• अब्रुवन्: they spoke
• अब्रुवन्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speakers

• Narrative voice (Garga’s framing implied in surrounding verses) and Dattātreya’s point; then Devas respond

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "dharma", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Brahmacarya / restraint
• Ethics of sensuality
• Habit and moral decline
• Dialogue progression

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The emphasis is on repetition: continual indulgence strengthens attachment and weakens discernment. The teaching is not merely social but psychological—habit shapes character and spiritual capacity.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ancillary dharma instruction within an Ākhyāna; not a direct sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṃśa unit.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Sātatyena’ hints at saṃskāra formation: repeated acts deepen latent impressions, making liberation harder even if one possesses theoretical knowledge.