Shloka 17

ययाति-देवयानी-शर्मिष्ठा विवादः — Śukra’s Curse and the Disclosure of Lineage

Devanagari script

सान्त्वयित्वा नृपश्रेष्ठ: साम्ना परमवल्गुना । का त्वं ताम्रनखी श्यामा सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डला,नृपश्रेष्ठ ययातिने पहले परम मधुर वचनोंद्वारा शान्तभावसे उसे आश्वासन दिया और कहा--“तुम कौन हो? तुम्हारे नख लाल-लाल हैं। तुम षोडशी जान पड़ती हो। तुम्हारे कानोंके मणिमय कुण्डल अत्यन्त सुन्दर और चमकीले हैं

Transliteration

sāntvayitvā nṛpaśreṣṭhaḥ sāmnā paramavalgūnā | kā tvaṃ tāmranakhī śyāmā sumṛṣṭamaṇikuṇḍalā ||

Translation

Vị vua bậc nhất trước hết đã vỗ về nàng bằng những lời lẽ dịu dàng, hòa nhã, rồi nói: “Nàng là ai—da sẫm, móng tay đỏ như đồng, và đôi hoa tai nạm ngọc được mài giũa tinh xảo đến thế?”

Word by Word

सान्त्वयित्वाhaving consoled/comforted

नृपश्रेष्ठःthe best of kings

साम्नाwith conciliation / by gentle words

परमवल्गुनाwith exceedingly sweet/pleasant (speech)

काwho (f.)

त्वम्you

ताम्रनखीshe whose nails are copper-red

श्यामाdark-complexioned

सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डलाshe who has well-polished/beautiful jeweled earrings

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana (speaker)

nṛpaśreṣṭha (the best of kings; the king addressed in context)

a young woman described as tāmranakhī śyāmā sumṛṣṭamaṇikuṇḍalā

maṇikuṇḍala (jeweled earrings)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse models dharmic conduct in interpersonal situations: an ideal ruler first pacifies fear or distress through sāman (conciliatory, gentle speech) and then asks questions respectfully. Ethical authority is shown as self-restraint, empathy, and courteous inquiry rather than force.

What is happening in the narrative?

A king, described as nṛpaśreṣṭha, reassures a young woman and addresses her with very sweet words, asking who she is while noting her striking features—copper-red nails, dark complexion, and shining jeweled earrings—setting up her identification and the next turn of the story.