Shloka 34

और्वोपाख्यानम्

Aurva Episode: Restoration of Sight and Restraint of World-Destructive Anger

Devanagari script

युधिष्ठिरं तस्य भार्या प्रपेदे शरणार्थिनी । नाम्ना कुम्भीनसी नाम पतित्राणमभीप्सती,उस गन्धर्वकी पत्नीका नाम कुम्भीनसी था। उसने अपने पतिके जीवनकी रक्षाके लिये महाराज युधिष्ठिरकी शरण ली

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhiraṃ tasya bhāryā prapede śaraṇārthinī | nāmnā kumbhīnasī nāma patitrāṇam abhīpsatī ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Tìm nơi nương tựa, người vợ của Gandharva ấy đến trước Yudhiṣṭhira. Nàng tên là Kumbhīnasī, đến để cầu xin sự che chở và cứu mạng chồng mình—một lời khẩn cầu đặt bổn phận cưu mang kẻ khốn cùng và gìn giữ sinh mạng vào trung tâm của đạo làm vua.

Word by Word

युधिष्ठिरम्Yudhiṣṭhira (as object)

तस्यof him / his

भार्याwife

प्रपेदेtook refuge in / approached

शरणार्थिनीseeking refuge

नाम्नाby name

कुम्भीनसीKumbhīnasī

नामname

पतित्राणम्protection of (her) husband

अभीप्सतीdesiring / wishing

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Yudhiṣṭhira

Kumbhīnasī

Gandharva (her husband, implied)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dharma of granting refuge: when someone approaches in fear seeking protection—especially to save a life—a righteous person, and particularly a king, is ethically bound to respond with compassion and protection.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kumbhīnasī, the wife of a Gandharva, comes to Yudhiṣṭhira as a supplicant. She seeks his shelter and intervention to protect her husband’s life, setting up a moment where Yudhiṣṭhira’s conduct as a dharmic protector is tested.