Shloka 48

Adhyaya 7 — Harishchandra Tested by Vishvamitra: The Gift of the Kingdom and the Pandava Curse-Backstory

Sanskrit

नयास्मानपि राजर्षे यदि धर्ममवेक्षसे ।

मुहूर्तं तिष्ठ राजेन्द्र भवतो मुखपङ्कजम् ॥

Transliteration

nayāsmān api rājarṣe yadi dharmam avekṣase | muhūrtaṃ tiṣṭha rājendra bhavato mukhapaṅkajam ||

Translation

“Ô bậc hiền vương, nếu ngài một lòng gìn giữ Dharma, thì xin cũng dẫn dắt chúng tôi. Ôi bậc vương tối thượng, xin dừng lại giây lát—để chúng tôi được chiêm ngưỡng dung nhan như hoa sen của ngài.”

Word by Word

• नय: lead (take)
• नय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अस्मान्: us
• अस्मान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक (also/even)

• राजर्षे: O royal sage
• राजर्षे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: राजा च ऋषिः; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक अव्यय (conditional conjunction: if)

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अवेक्षसे: you consider, you look to
• अवेक्षसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मुहूर्तम्: for a moment
• मुहूर्तम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd) (कालपरिमाणे), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत्

• तिष्ठ: stay, stand
• तिष्ठ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• राजेन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: राज्ञाम् इन्द्रः; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• भवतः: of you, your
• भवतः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• मुख: face
• मुख: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; (समासपूर्वपद)

• पङ्कजम्: lotus (i.e., lotus-like)
• पङ्कजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पङ्कज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: पङ्के जायते इति; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘मुख’ इत्यनेन सह कर्मधारयवत् प्रयोगः (मुखपङ्कजम् = lotus-like face)

Speakers

• Unspecified from the single-verse input (a respectful speaker addresses a king as rājarṣi/rājendra
• requesting guidance and a brief pause).

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "karuna", "secondaryRasa": "shringara", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Royal ethics (rājadharma)
• Respectful speech and conduct
• Guidance/leadership

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is framed as active responsibility: a ruler who truly “regards dharma” should not pursue it in isolation but guide others as well. The verse also models dharmic communication—humility, reverence, and a request made without coercion.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse aligns most closely with Dharma/Ācāra instruction within the Purāṇic narrative frame rather than the core pañcalakṣaṇa categories (sarga, pratisarga, vaṃśa, manvantara, vaṃśānucarita). It functions as ethical dialogue supporting the text’s didactic purpose.

What is the esoteric significance?

The “lotus-face” (mukha-paṅkaja) is a conventional symbol of sattva—clarity, auspiciousness, and life-giving order. Esoterically, pausing to behold the righteous leader’s ‘lotus’ suggests turning attention toward the luminous center of dharma before undertaking action.