Shloka 26

Adhyaya 16 — The Son’s Counsel on Renunciation and the Anasuya–Mandavya Episode: The Suspension of Sunrise and the Power of Pativrata

Sanskrit

निशि मेघास्तृते व्योम्नि चलद्विद्युत्प्रदर्शिते ।

राजमार्गे प्रियं भर्तुश्चिकीर्षन्ती द्विजाङ्गना ॥

Transliteration

niśi meghāstṛte vyomni caladvidyutpradarśite / rājamārge priyaṃ bhartuś cikīrṣantī dvijāṅganā

Translation

ยามราตรี เมื่อท้องฟ้าถูกเมฆปกคลุมและสว่างด้วยแสงฟ้าแลบที่วูบวาบ นางพราหมณีก็เดินไปตามถนนหลวง ด้วยความปรารถนาจะทำสิ่งอันเป็นที่รักของสามี

Word by Word

• निशि: at night
• निशि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मेघ-आस्तृते: covered with clouds
• मेघ-आस्तृते: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघ + आस्तृत (प्रातिपदिक; √स्तृ/√स्तॄ with आ-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (meghaiḥ āstṛte)

• व्योम्नि: in the sky
• व्योम्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्योमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चलत्-विद्युत्-प्रदर्शिते: lit up by moving lightning
• चलत्-विद्युत्-प्रदर्शिते: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चलत् (कृदन्त) + विद्युत् + प्रदर्शित (प्रातिपदिक; प्र-√दृश्, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः तत्पुरुष (calantyā vidyutā pradarśite)

• राज-मार्गे: on the king's road
• राज-मार्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (rājñaḥ mārgaḥ)

• प्रियम्: what is dear/pleasing (a dear act)
• प्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भर्तुः: of (her) husband
• भर्तुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चिकीर्षन्ती: wishing to do
• चिकीर्षन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: सन्नन्त-धातु (cikīrṣ- desiderative) वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• द्विज-अङ्गना: the brahmin woman
• द्विज-अङ्गना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + अङ्गना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (dvijasya aṅganā)

Speakers

• Narrator

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "karuna", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Intent vs outcome
• Atmospheric omen

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Good intention (to please the husband) does not cancel situational risk; dharma is contextual, and night travel into danger can precipitate unintended harm.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ethical narrative framework, not cosmological enumeration.

What is the esoteric significance?

Clouds and lightning evoke tamas pierced by sudden insight—yet the flashes are intermittent, mirroring partial discernment amid passion-driven action.