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Shloka 2

कच-देवयानी संवादः

Kaca–Devayānī Dialogue and the Curse on Vidyā

अथापश्यद्‌ वरारोहा तपसा दग्धकिल्बिषम्‌ | विश्वामित्रं तप्यमानं मेनका भीरुराश्रमे,वनमें पहुँचकर भीरु स्वभाववाली सुन्दरी मेनकाने एक आश्रममें विश्वामित्र मुनिको तप करते देखा। वे तपस्याद्वारा अपने समस्त पाप दग्ध कर चुके थे

athāpaśyad varārohā tapasā dagdha-kilbiṣam | viśvāmitraṃ tapyamānaṃ menakā bhīrur āśrame ||

แล้วเมนกา นางผู้มีอวัยวะงามแต่มีใจหวั่นไหวง่าย ได้ไปถึงอาศรมแห่งหนึ่ง และเห็นฤษีวิศวามิตรบำเพ็ญตบะอย่างเคร่งครัด ด้วยเดชแห่งตบะ ท่านได้เผาผลาญมลทินแห่งบาปทั้งปวงแล้ว

अथthen
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
अपश्यत्saw
अपश्यत्:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd, singular, Parasmaipada
वरारोहाthe fair-limbed woman (Menakā)
वरारोहा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवरारोहा
Formfeminine, nominative, singular
तपसाby austerity
तपसा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootतपस्
Formneuter, instrumental, singular
दग्धburnt
दग्ध:
TypeAdjective
Rootदह्
Formmasculine, accusative, singular, क्त (past passive participle)
किल्बिषम्sin, fault
किल्बिषम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकिल्बिष
Formneuter, accusative, singular
विश्वामित्रम्Viśvāmitra
विश्वामित्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootविश्वामित्र
Formmasculine, accusative, singular
तप्यमानम्performing austerity, doing penance
तप्यमानम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootतप्
Formmasculine, accusative, singular, शानच् (present active participle, Ātmanepada form)
मेनकाMenakā
मेनका:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमेनका
Formfeminine, nominative, singular
भीरुःtimid, shy
भीरुः:
TypeAdjective
Rootभीरु
Formfeminine, nominative, singular
आश्रमेin the hermitage
आश्रमे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootआश्रम
Formmasculine, locative, singular

कण्व उवाच

K
Kaṇva
M
Menakā
V
Viśvāmitra
Ā
Āśrama (hermitage)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights tapas as an ethical-spiritual discipline that purifies inner faults (kilbiṣa). It presents austerity and self-restraint as a means of moral cleansing and steadfastness, even when circumstances may later test that restraint.

Kaṇva narrates that Menakā arrives at a hermitage and sees the sage Viśvāmitra absorbed in austerities. He is described as having burned away his sins through tapas, setting the stage for the ensuing encounter and its consequences.