Shloka 22
Vyāsa’s Boon-Offer and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Remorse in the Forest Assembly (आश्रमवासिक पर्व, अध्याय ३६)
Devanagari script
ततः स नृपतिर्दूष्टवा वह्निमायान्तमन्तिकात्
Transliteration
tataḥ sa nṛpatir dṛṣṭvā vahnim āyāntam antikāt
Translation
随后，国王见火势逼近，便警醒起来，察觉事态已至险恶关头——这是不祥的一刻：往昔业行之果与时势不可违的必然，竟也逼迫到强者身上。
Word by Word
ततःthen; thereupon
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततस्
FormAvyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from/thereupon')
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, nominative, singular
नृपतिःthe king
नृपतिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनृपति
FormMasculine, nominative, singular
दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormAbsolutive (क्त्वा), 'having seen'
वह्निम्the fire
वह्निम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवह्नि
FormMasculine, accusative, singular
आयान्तम्coming; approaching
आयान्तम्:
TypeVerb
Rootआ-या
FormPresent active participle (शतृ), masculine, accusative, singular
अन्तिकात्from nearby; from close at hand
अन्तिकात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootअन्तिक
FormNeuter, ablative, singular (used adverbially: 'from near/at close range')
Speaker
नारद उवाच
Characters & Entities
N
nṛpati (the king)V
vahni (fire)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Even royal power cannot stand against the approach of inevitable forces—time, consequence, and mortality. The verse underscores vigilance and humility: when the results of prior actions draw near, one must face them with clarity rather than denial.
Nārada narrates that the king notices fire coming close. This signals an imminent crisis or transformative event, setting up the next actions and reactions in the Ashramavāsika narrative context.