Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

अशोके विमले तीर्थे स्नात्वा वै तर्प्प देवता: । तत्र वासाय शयने कौशे सुखमुवास ह,वहाँ निर्मल अशोक तीर्थमें स्नान करके देवताओंका तर्पण करनेके पश्चात्‌ उन्होंने कुशकी चटाईपर सुखपूर्वक निवास किया

Transliteration

aśoke vimale tīrthe snātvā vai tarpayitvā devatāḥ | tatra vāsāya śayane kauśe sukham uvāsa ha ||

Translation

เมื่ออาบน้ำ ณ ตีรถะ ‘อโศก’ อันผ่องใส และถวายตัรปณะบูชาแด่เหล่าเทพแล้ว ท่านก็พำนักอยู่ที่นั่นอย่างสงบสุข เอนกายบนที่นอนทำด้วยหญ้ากุศะ

Word by Word

अशोकेin (the place called) Ashoka

विमलेpure/spotless

तीर्थेat the sacred ford/pilgrimage place

स्नात्वाhaving bathed

वैindeed/verily

तर्प्यhaving satisfied (by offering libations)

देवताःthe deities

तत्रthere

वासायfor dwelling/residing

शयनेon a bed/resting-place

कौशेmade of kuśa-grass

सुखम्comfortably/with ease

उवासdwelt/stayed

हindeed (emphatic particle)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma (speaker)

Aśoka tīrtha

Devatāḥ (gods)

Kuśa grass mat/bed (kauśa śayana)

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?

The verse models dharmic conduct: cleanse oneself (snāna), honor the divine through tarpaṇa, and live simply (resting on kuśa). Purity, gratitude, and restraint are presented as supportive of ethical life.

What is happening in the narrative?

After reaching the Aśoka tīrtha, the person described bathes in the pure waters, performs offerings to the gods, and then settles there for the night or a stay, using a kuśa-grass bed.