Shloka 163

अध्याय १५ (Āśramavāsika-parva): धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनवासानुज्ञायाचनम् — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s renewed plea for consent to forest-dwelling

Devanagari script

गान्धारीसहिता वत्स्ये तापसी मलपड्किनी । अब मैं वनमें गान्धारीके साथ शरीरपर मैल एवं कीचड़ धारण किये तपस्विनी बनकर रहूँगी और अपने इन सास-ससुरके चरणोंकी सेवामें लगी रहूँगी

Transliteration

gāndhārī-sahitā vatsye tāpasī mala-paṅkinī |

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说：“我将与甘陀利同住林中，作苦行女，身披尘土与泥污。我将恭敬侍奉这些长者——我的公公与婆婆——常在其足下尽礼。”

Word by Word

• गान्धारी: with Gandhārī
• गान्धारी: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्धारी
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• सहिता: together (accompanied)
• सहिता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• वत्स्ये: I shall dwell
• वत्स्ये: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस्
• Form: Future, 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तापसी: a female ascetic
• तापसी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तापसी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• मल: dirt/filth
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल
• Form: Neuter, Uninflected (compound member)

• पङ्किनी: mud-smeared (one having mire)
• पङ्किनी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पङ्किन्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Gāndhārī
• forest (vana)
• elders (father-in-law and mother-in-law)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma expressed through renunciation and humble service: choosing an austere forest life, accepting physical hardship, and honoring elders through devoted attendance. Ethical strength is shown as steadfast duty and self-discipline rather than comfort or status.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Ashramavāsika context—after the great war—royal elders and their family turn toward the forest life. The speaker’s declaration (as reported by Vaiśampāyana) describes living with Gāndhārī as an ascetic, embracing austerity, and serving the elder in-laws, marking a transition from palace life to vānaprastha/ascetic practice.