Shloka 20

चित्रसेन-समागमः / The Engagement with Citrasena and the Gandharvas

Devanagari script

प्रणयं प्रतिसंहृत्य निधायात्मानमात्मनि । शुश्रूषुर्निरहंमाना पतीनां चित्तरक्षिणी,अपनी इच्छाओंका दमन करके मनको अपने-आपमें ही समेटे हुए केवल सेवाकी इच्छासे ही अपने पतियोंका मन रखती हूँ। अहंकार और अभिमानको अपने पास नहीं फटकने देती

Transliteration

praṇayaṃ pratisaṃhṛtya nidhāyātmānam ātmani | śuśrūṣur nirahaṃmānā patīnāṃ cittarakṣiṇī ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: “Kìm giữ những ham muốn riêng và thu nhiếp tâm ý trở về nơi tự ngã, ta chỉ chuyên tâm vào việc phụng sự—không ngã mạn, không tự phụ—gìn giữ và nâng đỡ lòng dạ của các phu quân.”

Word by Word

प्रणयम्affection, love

प्रतिसंहृत्यhaving withdrawn/restrained

निधायhaving placed/fixed

आत्मानम्self, mind (oneself)

आत्मनिin the self

शुश्रूषुःdesirous of serving/attending

निरहंमानाfree from ego/pride

पतीनाम्of (my) husbands

चित्तरक्षिणीprotecting/guarding the mind (of them)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

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 emphasizes dharmic self-discipline: restraining personal impulses, centering the mind inward, and acting from humble service rather than ego—thereby protecting harmony in relationships.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports a woman’s stated conduct and ideal of behavior: she describes withdrawing her own desires, remaining free of pride, and focusing on attentive service to maintain the well-being and goodwill of her husbands.