Shloka 16

पञ्चाप्सरो-सरः कथनम् तथा अगस्त्याश्रममार्गनिर्देशः

Panchapsara Lake Account and Directions to Agastya

Devanagari script

अप्सरोभिस्ततस्ताभिर्मुनिर्दृष्टपरावरः।।।।नीतो मदनवश्यत्वं सुराणां कार्यसिद्धये।

Transliteration

apsarobhis tatas tābhir munir dṛṣṭaparāvaraḥ |

nīto madanavaśyatvaṃ surāṇāṃ kāryasiddhaye ||

Translation

随后，那位洞悉高下之理的圣者，被那些天女引入爱欲的支配之中，使诸神之计得以成就。

Word by Word

• अप्सरोभिः: by the apsarases
• अप्सरोभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apsaras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (thereupon)

• ताभिः: by them
• ताभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दृष्टपरावरः: knower of the higher and lower (realities)
• दृष्टपरावरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛṣṭa + para + avara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहि (परं च अवरं च दृष्टं येन सः = 'who has seen the higher and the lower/knower of all'); विशेषण (of 'muniḥ')

• नीतः: was led
• नीतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√nī (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि—'was led'

• मदनवश्यत्वम्: into Cupid's control
• मदनवश्यत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madana + vaśyatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मदनस्य वश्यत्वम् = 'subjection to Cupid')

• सुराणाम्: of the gods
• सुराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• कार्यसिद्धये: for accomplishing (their) task
• कार्यसिद्धये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya + siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/dative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कार्यस्य सिद्धिः = 'accomplishment of the task'); प्रयोजनार्थे चतुर्थी

Context

The sage, a knower of the inner self and the world of plurality, was gripped by passion for the apsaras, who had come to achieve the target of the gods.

Characters & Entities

• muni (sage)
• apsarasaḥ (apsarases)
• surāḥ (gods)
• Madana (Cupid)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Spiritual knowledge alone is not sufficient without continued discipline; dharma requires vigilance against kāma, which can overpower even the learned.

What is the narrative situation?

The apsarases succeed in making the sage fall under passion, fulfilling the gods’ plan to interrupt his ascetic progress.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The virtue emphasized by contrast is self-mastery (indriya-nigraha): the verse shows what happens when desire gains control.