Shloka 81

Adhyaya 23 — Ashvatara’s Vow for Madalasa and the Bestowal of Musical Science by Sarasvati

Sanskrit

तद्दोयतां द्विजसुतौ यदि वां प्रणयो मयि ।

एतावता अहं दैवेन वञ्चितोऽस्मि दुरात्मना ॥

Transliteration

tad doyatāṃ dvija-sutau yadi vāṃ praṇayo mayi |

etāvatāhaṃ daivena vañcito 'smi durātmanā ||

Translation

‘اے برہمن کے بیٹو، اگر تم دونوں کو مجھ سے محبت ہے تو بس وہی عطا کر دو۔ میں تو اسی قدر میں تقدیر—اس بے رحم قوت—کے ہاتھوں فریب کھا گیا ہوں۔’

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Demonstrative pronoun, Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• दोयताम्: let it be given
• दोयताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• द्विज-सुतौ: O two sons of a Brahmin
• द्विज-सुतौ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Dual (द्विवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्विजस्य सुतौ)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional conjunction (शर्तार्थक अव्यय)

• वाम्: of you two
• वाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: 2nd person pronoun, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी) / Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Dual (द्विवचन); here genitive ‘of you two’

• प्रणयः: affection
• प्रणयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• मयि: in me/towards me
• मयि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: 1st person pronoun, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• एतावता: by this much/so far
• एतावता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); idiomatic ‘by this much/so far’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: 1st person pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• दैवेन: by fate
• दैवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• वञ्चितः: deceived/cheated
• वञ्चितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वञ्च् (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate with ‘अस्मि’

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada, 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• दुरात्मना: by the cruel/evil-souled (fate)
• दुरात्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi ‘one whose self is bad’ used as agent-like instrument with ‘दैवेन’ (by cruel fate)

Speakers

• Prince (addressing the two as dvija-sutau)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Fate (daiva) vs human intent
• Emotional appeal and attachment
• Social identity (dvija-sutau)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse dramatizes how attachment can leverage gifts and pity; dharmically, one must discern whether requests align with rightful obligation rather than be swayed by lamentation about fate.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita: a psychological turning-point in the story, not a cosmological or manvantara exposition.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Deceived by fate’ externalizes inner conflict: when desire is frustrated, the mind projects causality onto daiva; the spiritual lesson is to recover agency through dharma rather than fatalism.