Shloka 48
Āṇīmāṇḍavya–Upākhyāna
The Account of Āṇīmāṇḍavya and the Birth of Vidura
कस्य त्वमसि का चासि कि च भीरु चिकीर्षसि । साब्रवीद् दाशकन्यास्मि धर्मार्थ वाहये तरिम्,'भीरु! तू कौन है, किसकी पुत्री है और क्या करना चाहती है?” वह बोली--'राजन! आपका कल्याण हो। मैं निषादकन्या हूँ और अपने पिता महामना निषादराजकी आज्ञासे धर्मार्थ नाव चलाती हूँ।' राजा शान्तनुने रूप, माधुर्य तथा सुगन्धसे युक्त देवांगनाके तुल्य उस निषादकन्याको देखकर उसे प्राप्त करनेकी इच्छा की। तदनन्तर उसके पिताके समीप जाकर उन्होंने उसका वरण किया
kasya tvam asi kā cāsi kiṁ ca bhīru cikīrṣasi | sābravīd dāśakanyāsmi dharmārthaṁ vāhaye tarim ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Ngài hỏi: ‘Nàng là con ai, nàng là ai, và nàng muốn làm gì—hỡi cô gái rụt rè?’ Nàng đáp: ‘Thiếp là con gái người lái đò. Vì dharma, vâng theo lệnh cha, thiếp đưa người qua sông bằng chiếc thuyền này.’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharma as lived duty: the girl defines herself not by romance or gain but by rightful work done under parental instruction and for social good (ferrying others). It also frames an ethical backdrop where a king’s desire must be negotiated through proper social procedures and consent.
King Śāntanu questions a young ferrygirl about her identity and purpose. She answers that she is a boatman’s daughter who ferries people as a duty. The narrative then moves to Śāntanu’s attraction and his approach to her father to seek her in marriage.