Shloka 40

Adhyaya 24 — Kuvalayashva’s Refusal of Gifts and the Vision of Madalasa’s Maya

Sanskrit

अहो स्नेहोऽस्य नृपतेर्ममोपऱ्यचलं मनः ।

येनायं पातनोऽरीणां विना शस्त्रेण पातितः ॥

Transliteration

aho sneho ’sya nṛpater mamopary acalaṃ manaḥ |

yenāyaṃ pātano ’rīṇāṃ vinā śastreṇa pātitaḥ ||

Translation

อา—ความรักของพระราชาที่มีต่อเราช่างเป็นเช่นนี้ จิตอันมั่นคงของเขาผูกติดอยู่กับเรา จนผู้เป็น ‘ผู้ปราบศัตรู’ กลับถูกทำให้ล้มลงโดยปราศจากอาวุธใดๆ

Word by Word

ahoah!

snehaḥaffection, attachment

asyaof this (man)

nṛpateḥof the king

mamaof me / for me

upariupon, over

acalamunmoving, steadfast

manaḥmind

yenaby which

ayamthis (man)

pātanaḥthe one who causes to fall / destroyer

arīṇāmof enemies

vināwithout

śastreṇaby a weapon

pātitaḥhas been felled

Speakers

Narrative voice (Jaḍa’s report); the line reflects observation about the king’s state

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

Attachment as a defeating forceIrony of worldly powerInner enemies vs outer enemies

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even a powerful ruler can be defeated by inner vulnerability; unchecked attachment is more potent than external weapons.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Moral instruction embedded in narrative (ākhyāna); not a primary pancalakṣaṇa segment.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Weaponless defeat’ points to kleśas (desire/attachment) as subtle forces that overthrow the mind without visible cause.