Shloka 10

Akrūra in Hastināpura: Kuntī’s Lament and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Moral Instruction

Devanagari script

सपत्नमध्ये शोचन्तीं वृकानां हरिणीमिव । सान्‍त्‍वयिष्यति मां वाक्यै: पितृहीनांश्च बालकान् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

sapatna-madhye śocantīṁ vṛkānāṁ hariṇīm iva sāntvayiṣyati māṁ vākyaiḥ pitṛ-hīnāṁś ca bālakān

Translation

Giữa kẻ thù, ta than khóc như nai cái giữa bầy sói; Śrī Kṛṣṇa có đến dùng lời Ngài an ủi ta và các con thơ mồ côi cha chăng?

Synonyms

• सपत्नमध्ये: among co-wives/rivals
• सपत्नमध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सपत्न + मध्ये (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सपत्नानां मध्ये)

• शोचन्तीम्: lamenting
• शोचन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुच् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (to implied ‘माम्’)

• वृकानाम्: of wolves
• वृकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• हरिणीम्: a doe
• हरिणीम्: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-sambandha (उपमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• सान्त्वयिष्यति: will console
• सान्त्वयिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सान्त्वय् (धातु; सान्त्वयति)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• वाक्यैः: with words
• वाक्यैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• पितृहीनान्: fatherless
• पितृहीनान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; नञ्/अभावार्थ-तत्पुरुष (पितृहीन = fatherless)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• बालकान्: children
• बालकान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Rukmiṇī
• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about consoling others with kind words?

This verse highlights the devotional virtue of sāntvana—soothing others through gentle, truthful speech—especially toward those who are vulnerable and grieving.

Why does Rukmiṇī compare herself to a doe among wolves in Srimad Bhagavatam?

She uses a vivid image to express her fear and helplessness amid perceived rivals, while still emphasizing her hope that a compassionate person will comfort her and the fatherless children.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Offer emotional support through calm, respectful words, and extend special care to children and families facing loss—this is a lived expression of bhakti and dharma.