Shloka 166

Adhyaya 8 — Harishchandra’s Trial: Truth, the Sale of Family, and Bondage to a Chandala

Sanskrit

श्रुत्वा दुःखी तदा राजा देवान् शरणमीयिवान् ।

स्वस्ति कुर्वन्तु मे देवाः शैव्यायाः बालकस्य च ॥

Transliteration

śrutvā duḥkhī tadā rājā devān śaraṇam īyivān / svasti kurvantu me devāḥ śaivyāyā bālakasya ca

Translation

Nghe vậy, nhà vua trở nên sầu muộn rồi nương tựa nơi các chư thiên. “Nguyện các chư thiên ban điều an lành cho ta, cho Śaivyā, và cho đứa trẻ.”

Word by Word

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyā (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable verbal form; expresses prior action

• duḥkhī: grieved
• duḥkhī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; predicate adjective of rājā

• tadā: then
• tadā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• devān: the gods
• devān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• śaraṇam: refuge
• śaraṇam: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; with verb of motion in sense ‘as refuge’

• īyivān: approached
• īyivān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (धातु)
• Form: Periphrastic perfect participle (लिट्-कृदन्त/ईयिवांस्), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; ‘having gone/approached’

• svasti: well-being
• svasti: Karma (कर्म/desired state)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svasti (अव्यय)
• Form: Benedictive particle/noun used adverbially (मङ्गलवाचक-अव्यय)

• kurvantu: may they do
• kurvantu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• me: for me
• me: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; beneficiary

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• śaivyāyāḥ: of Śaivyā
• śaivyāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaivyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• bālakasya: of the child
• bālakasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bālaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

Speakers

• Narrative voice; king’s prayer

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Śaraṇāgati
• Prayer for auspiciousness (svasti)
• Family protection
• Suffering leading to devotion

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

When worldly supports fail, the dharmic response is śaraṇāgati and welfare-prayer (svasti) not only for oneself but also for dependents—an ethic of responsibility amid distress.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita (narrative conduct/episode) with a devotional insertion; not a core pancalakṣaṇa catalog but a didactic story illustrating dharma in crisis.

What is the esoteric significance?

Turning to the devas indicates the inward pivot from egoic control to surrender; ‘svasti’ is not mere luck but alignment with ṛta/dharma, seeking restoration of cosmic order in one’s microcosm (family).