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Shloka 68

योग–सांख्यसमन्वयः, रथोपमा, व्यक्त–अव्यक्तविवेकः

Yoga–Sāṃkhya Synthesis, Chariot Allegory, and the Vyakta–Avyakta Distinction

असेवन्त भुजिष्या वै दुर्जनाचरितं विधिम्‌ | वहाँकी दासियाँ सुन्दर हार एवं अन्य आभूषण पहनकर मनोहर वेष धारण करतीं और दुराचारिणी स्त्रियोंकी भाँति चलती-फिरती, खड़ी होती और कटाक्ष करती हैं। साथ ही वे उस कुकृत्यको अपनाती हैं, जिसका आचरण दुराचारीजन करते हैं ।।

asevanta bhujisyā vai durjanācaritaṁ vidhim | striyaḥ puruṣaveṣeṇa puṁsaḥ strīveṣadhāriṇaḥ ||

Śakra nói: “Quả thật, những kẻ lệ thuộc và tôi tớ ở đó noi theo lề lối hành xử của bọn ác nhân. Nữ mặc y phục nam, nam khoác trang phục nữ; đeo vòng hoa và đồ trang sức, họ đi lại, đứng đắn, liếc xéo theo kiểu của kẻ dâm loạn. Thế là họ ôm lấy chính điều ác mà hạng suy đồi lấy làm thói quen.”

असेवन्तthey served/practised
असेवन्त:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootसेव्
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
भुजिष्याḥfemale slaves/servant-women
भुजिष्याḥ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभुजिष्य
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
वैindeed
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
दुर्जन-आचरितम्practised by wicked people
दुर्जन-आचरितम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootदुर्जन + आचरित
FormMasculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular
विधिम्rule/way/practice
विधिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootविधि
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
स्त्रियःwomen
स्त्रियः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootस्त्री
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
पुरुष-वेषेणwith/in a man's attire
पुरुष-वेषेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष + वेष
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
पुंसःmen
पुंसः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुंस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
स्त्री-वेष-धारिणःwearing women's attire
स्त्री-वेष-धारिणः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootस्त्री + वेष + धारिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

शक्र उवाच

Ś
Śakra (Indra)
W
women (striyaḥ)
M
men (puṁsaḥ)
S
servants/dependents (bhujisyāḥ)
O
ornaments/adornments (implicit: ābharaṇa, hāra)

Educational Q&A

The verse condemns adopting the behavioral norms of the wicked (durjana-ācāra). It frames moral decline as a social contagion: when people imitate corrupt conduct—valuing display, flirtation, and transgressive habits—ethical order (dharma) erodes, regardless of outward adornment or role.

Śakra (Indra) describes a community where servants and dependents have taken up depraved customs. He highlights conspicuous adornment and provocative mannerisms, and notes role-reversal in dress (women in men’s attire and men in women’s attire) as part of a broader picture of disorderly, immoral behavior.