Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

अथ ते राक्षसा: सर्वे येडभिरक्षन्ति पद्मिनीम्‌ प्रत्युत्थिता भगवन्तं मणिभद्रपुरोगमा:

Transliteration

atha te rākṣasāḥ sarve yeḍabhirakṣanti padminīm pratyutthitā bhagavantaṁ maṇibhadrapurogamāḥ

Translation

ครั้นนั้น เหล่ารากษสผู้เฝ้าปัทมินีทั้งปวง—มีมณิภัทรเป็นผู้นำ—ต่างลุกขึ้นยืนรับด้วยความเคารพต่อท่านผู้ควรบูชา

Word by Word

अथthen

तेthose/they

राक्षसाःRakshasas (demons)

सर्वेall

येwho

इभिःwith elephants

रक्षन्तिprotect/guard

पद्मिनीम्Padminī (a woman named Padminī)

प्रत्युत्थिताःhaving risen up (in response)

भगवन्तम्the Blessed Lord

मणिभद्रपुरोगमाःhaving Maṇibhadra in front/led by Maṇibhadra

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Rākṣasas

Padminī

Bhagavān (revered person addressed/encountered)

Maṇibhadra

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?

Even beings associated with violence or fear (rākṣasas) can act within dharma when they recognize rightful spiritual or moral authority; reverence and self-restraint are presented as marks of order and righteousness.

What is happening in the narrative?

The rākṣasas assigned to guard Padminī rise and present themselves respectfully before a revered figure, with Maṇibhadra leading them, indicating a formal reception and acknowledgment of higher status.