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Shloka 19

Kāṣṭhīla-Upākhyāna: Rākṣasī, Spear-Śakti, and Kāśī as Śakti-kṣetra

उवाच राक्षसीं तां तु सशंको मधुरं वचः । सुभगे नीतिशास्त्रेषु विश्वस्तव्या न योषितः ॥ १९ ॥

uvāca rākṣasīṃ tāṃ tu saśaṃko madhuraṃ vacaḥ | subhage nītiśāstreṣu viśvastavyā na yoṣitaḥ || 19 ||

پھر وہ شک میں ہوتے ہوئے بھی اُس راکشسی سے شیریں کلام ہوا—“اے نیک رو، نیتی شاستروں کے مطابق عورت پر بھروسا نہیں کرنا چاہیے۔”

uvācasaid
uvāca:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (धातु)
Formलिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
rākṣasīmthe demoness
rākṣasīm:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootrākṣasī (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन
tāmher/that (one)
tām:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन
tubut/indeed
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle)
sa-śaṅkaḥsuspicious
sa-śaṅkaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsa (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + śaṅka (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; ‘with doubt/suspicious’ qualifying (implicit) speaker
madhuramsweet
madhuram:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootmadhura (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; qualifying vacaḥ
vacaḥwords/speech
vacaḥ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvacas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (vacas-śabda)
subhageO lovely one
subhage:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootsubhaga (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन
nīti-śāstreṣuin policy-texts
nīti-śāstreṣu:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootnīti (प्रातिपदिक) + śāstra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; ‘in treatises of policy/ethics’
viśvastavyāto be trusted/trustworthy
viśvastavyā:
Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootvi-√śvas (धातु) + tavya (तव्यत्)
Formतव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective with yoṣitā (understood)
nanot
na:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध (negation particle)
yoṣitaḥa woman
yoṣitaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyoṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; here generic ‘a woman’

Narrative voice (the text narrates the character’s speech; direct speaker within the verse is an unnamed male addressing a rākṣasī)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

R
Rākṣasī

FAQs

The verse highlights vigilance (saśaṅkatā) and discernment in worldly dealings—an aspect of practical dharma—showing that sweet speech may mask harmful intent, especially in encounters with deceptive forces.

Indirectly, it supports bhakti by warning against misplaced trust and distraction: a devotee should cultivate viveka (discernment) so the mind remains steady and protected from temptation or deception that can derail devotion.

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Śikṣā) is taught in this line; it instead reflects nīti-śāstra style practical ethics—guidance for prudent conduct in social situations.