Shloka 101

Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy

Devanagari script

इति चिन्ताविविक्तस्य तमर्थ ज्ञातुमिच्छत: । व्यगच्छत्‌ तदहः:शेषं मनसा व्याकुलेन तु

Transliteration

iti cintā-viviktasya tam arthaṁ jñātum icchataḥ | vyagacchat tad-ahaḥ-śeṣaṁ manasā vyākulena tu ||

Translation

ดังนั้น เมื่อเขานั่งแยกอยู่ตามลำพัง หมกมุ่นในความครุ่นคิดอันกระวนกระวายและปรารถนาจะรู้ความหมายแห่งเรื่องนั้น เวลาที่เหลือของวันก็ล่วงไป โดยจิตยังไม่สงบ

Word by Word

इतिthus

चिन्ता-विविक्तस्यof (one) secluded/withdrawn in thought

तम्him

अर्थम्the meaning/purpose

ज्ञातुम्to know

इच्छतःof (him) desiring

व्यगच्छत्passed/went by

तत्that

अहः-शेषम्the remainder of the day

मनसाwith (his) mind

व्याकुलेनagitated/disturbed

तुbut/indeed

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

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 the ethical-psychological point that uncertainty about the right meaning or course of action (artha) can agitate the mind and make time slip away; clarity in understanding is necessary for steadiness and right conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes a person who, having withdrawn into solitary thought, is eager to understand a particular issue; while he remains mentally troubled, the rest of the day passes, indicating prolonged inner deliberation and unrest.