Shloka 47

The Lakṣmī–Nārāyaṇa Vow Narrative

Puṣya Thursday Observance and the Ethics of Fortune

Devanagari script

जगाम ब्राह्मणीपार्श्वं सगर्वा प्राह सुंदर । राज्ञ्युवाच । वृद्धे ब्राह्मणि किं वृत्तं चोपदेशार्थमागता

Transliteration

jagāma brāhmaṇīpārśvaṃ sagarvā prāha suṃdara | rājñyuvāca | vṛddhe brāhmaṇi kiṃ vṛttaṃ copadeśārthamāgatā

Translation

แล้วพระมเหสีผู้มีความทะนงเสด็จไปยังข้างนางพราหมณี ตรัสว่า “โอ้หญิงงาม โอ้พราหมณีผู้ชรา เกิดเหตุอันใดขึ้น และท่านมาที่นี่เพื่อประทานโอวาทหรือ?”

Word by Word

• jagāma: went
• jagāma: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• brāhmaṇī-pārśvam: to the brāhmaṇī’s side
• brāhmaṇī-pārśvam: Karma (कर्म/Goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇī (प्रातिपदिक) + pārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); destination: 'to the side of the brāhmaṇī'

• sa-garvā: proud; with pride
• sa-garvā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + garva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective of the queen: 'with pride'

• prāha: said
• prāha: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• sundara: O handsome one
• sundara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sundara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); address (likely to an attendant): 'O handsome one!'

• rājñī: the queen
• rājñī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājñī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); speaker

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• vṛddhe: O elder
• vṛddhe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• brāhmaṇi: O brāhmaṇī
• brāhmaṇi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• kim: what?
• kim: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun (प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); used with 'vṛttam': 'what?'

• vṛttam: happened matter; news
• vṛttam: Karma (कर्म/Predicate complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate noun: 'what has happened?'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय/निपात): 'and'

• upadeśa-artham: for instruction
• upadeśa-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upadeśa (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); purpose accusative: 'for the sake of instruction'

• āgatā: has come
• āgatā: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√gam (धातु) → āgata (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate of (you): 'have come'

Speaker

The queen (rājñī)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A proud approach to counsel distorts inquiry; humility is the proper vessel for upadeśa.

Application: When seeking advice, examine tone and intent; replace defensiveness with sincere questions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: city

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Queen Suraticandrikā strides toward an aged brāhmaṇī seated calmly near the palace courtyard, her posture proud and chin lifted. The brāhmaṇī’s serene gaze meets the queen’s sharp inquiry, creating a charged stillness—like a storm gathering before a dharmic revelation.","primary_figures":["Queen Suraticandrikā","aged brāhmaṇī","palace attendants"],"setting":"palace courtyard edge with a simple mat for the brāhmaṇī, carved stone floor, flowering trees beyond, guards at a respectful distance","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["royal purple","sandalwood beige","burnished gold","leaf green","vermillion"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: proud queen approaching the seated brāhmaṇī, gold leaf highlighting the queen’s crown and ornaments, the brāhmaṇī rendered with austere simplicity; ornate arch and palace pillars, rich reds/greens, devotional gravitas despite courtly setting.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate queen in flowing garments leaning forward in inquiry, brāhmaṇī composed and still; soft garden backdrop, cool shadows, fine facial expressions emphasizing pride versus serenity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized queen with bold jewelry and assertive stance, brāhmaṇī with calm eyes and minimal adornment; strong outlines, rhythmic patterns on textiles, warm red-yellow-green palette.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: the encounter framed by lotus borders and creepers; attendants arranged symmetrically, peacocks and parrots in margins; deep indigo background with gold detailing, emphasizing moral drama within ornamental devotion."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["anklet chime","staff tap on stone","distant conch","courtyard birds"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: brāhmaṇīpārśvaṃ = brāhmaṇī-pārśvam; rājñyuvāca = rājñī + uvāca; copadeśārthamāgatā = ca + upadeśa-artham + āgatā.

Characters & Entities

• queen (rājñī)
• Brahmin woman (brāhmaṇī)

FAQs

Who is speaking in this verse and to whom?

The speaker is the queen (rājñī), and she addresses an elderly Brahmin woman (brāhmaṇī).

What ethical theme is implied by the word “sagarvā” (proud)?

It signals arrogance or self-importance, setting up a moral contrast often used in Purāṇic narratives to highlight humility and proper conduct toward the wise.

What does the queen ask the Brahmin woman?

She asks what has happened (kiṃ vṛttam) and whether the Brahmin woman has come to give instruction or counsel (upadeśārtham).