Shloka 54

Duḥṣantasya Vana-praveśaḥ

King Duḥṣanta’s Entry into the Forest Hunt

Devanagari script

सूक्ष्मधर्मार्थतत्त्वज्ञो गत्वा श्येनं ततोडब्रवीत्‌ । मत्प्रियार्थमिदं सौम्य शुक्रे मम गृहं नय

Transliteration

sūkṣma-dharmārtha-tattvajño gatvā śyenaṃ tato 'bravīt | mat-priyārtham idaṃ saumya śukre mama gṛhaṃ naya ||

Translation

พระราชาผู้รู้ซึ้งในหลักอันละเอียดแห่งธรรมและอรรถ เสด็จไปหาเหยี่ยวนั้นแล้วตรัสว่า “เจ้าผู้อ่อนโยน เพื่อทำสิ่งอันเป็นที่รักแก่เรา จงนำเชื้อนี้ไปยังเรือนของเรา”

Word by Word

• सूक्ष्म: subtle
• सूक्ष्म: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मार्थतत्त्वज्ञः: knower of the true principles of dharma and artha
• धर्मार्थतत्त्वज्ञः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मार्थतत्त्वज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गत्वा: having gone
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active

• श्येनम्: the hawk/falcon
• श्येनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्येन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मत्प्रियार्थम्: for my dear purpose / to please me
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्प्रियार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सौम्य: O gentle one
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौम्य
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• शुक्रे: in/with the semen (seed)
• शुक्रे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• मम: of me / my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• गृहम्: home/house
• गृहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• नय: take/lead (carry)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी
• Form: Imperative, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Vasu (king)
• Śyena (hawk)
• Queen Girikā
• Śukra (semen)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a ruler’s discernment in balancing dharma (right conduct) and artha (practical aims): even in pursuing lineage and royal continuity, action is framed as timely, purposeful, and guided by knowledge of subtle principles.

What is happening in the narrative?

King Vasu entrusts a hawk with carrying his semen to his home so it may reach Queen Girikā during her fertile period; the hawk departs swiftly as a messenger.