Shloka 16
Sarasvatī-Śāpavimokṣa, Rākṣasa-Mokṣa, and Aruṇā-Tīrtha
Indra–Namuci Expiation
Devanagari script
हतवीरा यथा नारी साभवद् दु:खिता भृशम् | ब्रूहि किं करवाणीति प्रोवाच मुनिसत्तमम्
Transliteration
hatavīrā yathā nārī sābhavad duḥkhitā bhṛśam | brūhi kiṁ karavāṇīti provāca munisattamam ||
Translation
毗湿ampāyana说道：她如同失去丈夫的妇人一般，悲痛至极。随后她对至上诸仙说道：“主啊，请告诉我——我当如何行事？我应奉行您哪一道命令？”
Word by Word
हतवीराwhose heroes (husband/men) are slain
हतवीरा:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootहतवीर
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
यथाas/like
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
नारीwoman
नारी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनारी
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
साshe
सा:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
अभवत्became/was
अभवत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular
दुःखिताsorrowful
दुःखिता:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootदुःखित
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
भृशम्exceedingly
भृशम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootभृशम्
ब्रूहिtell (me)
ब्रूहि:
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू
FormImperative (Loṭ), 2nd, Singular
किम्what
किम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
करवाणिshould I do
करवाणि:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormOptative (Vidhi-liṅ), 1st, Singular
इतिthus/quoting
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
प्रोवाचsaid/spoke
प्रोवाच:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular
मुनिसत्तमम्the best of sages
मुनिसत्तमम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमुनिसत्तम
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
VaiśampāyanaM
munisattama (foremost sage)A
a grieving woman (widow-like figure)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
In intense grief, the verse highlights turning to wise guidance and choosing action aligned with dharma—seeking clear instruction rather than being ruled by sorrow.
A woman, overwhelmed like a widow whose husband has been slain, approaches a foremost sage and asks what she should do and which command she should follow.