Shloka 54
Aṣṭāvakra’s Visit to Kubera: Hospitality, Temptation, and the Ethics of Restraint (अष्टावक्र-वैश्रवणोपाख्यानम्)
Devanagari script
श्रुत्वा जनन्या वचन निराशो गुरुदर्शने
Transliteration
śrutvā jananyā vacanaṁ nirāśo gurudarśane
Translation
听到母亲的话，伽罗婆心中沮丧，失去了得见师长的希望。
Word by Word
श्रुत्वाhaving heard
श्रुत्वा:
—
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (धातु)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि, —, —, —
जनन्याःof (his) mother
जनन्याः:
सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootजननी (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive, Singular
वचनम्speech; words
वचनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवचन (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
निराशःhopeless; despondent
निराशः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनिराश (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
गुरुदर्शनेin/at the seeing of the teacher (guru)
गुरुदर्शने:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootगुरुदर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
Speaker
गालव उवाच
Characters & Entities
ग
गालव (Galava)ज
जननी (mother)ग
गुरु (teacher)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between discouragement and duty: a seeker may face emotional setbacks from circumstances or advice, yet the dharmic ideal is to regain steadiness and continue pursuing rightful aims—especially in matters connected to the guru and learning.
Galava reports that after hearing his mother’s statement, he becomes despondent and feels he may not be able to meet or approach his guru, indicating a moment of doubt or obstruction in his effort to seek the teacher’s audience.