Shloka 3

शुनःशेफविक्रयः

The Sale of Śunaḥśepa for the Sacrifice

Devanagari script

पश्चिमायां विशालायां पुष्करेषु महात्मन:।सुखं तपश्चरिष्याम: परं तद्धि तपोवनम्।।।।

Transliteration

paścimāyāṃ viśālāyāṃ puṣkareṣu mahātmanaḥ |

sukhaṃ tapaś cariṣyāmaḥ paraṃ tad dhi tapovanam ||

Translation

大心者们啊，在广阔的西方——普湿迦罗——我们将安然修持苦行；因为那里确是最上等的苦行林。

Word by Word

• पश्चिमायाम्: in the western (region)
• पश्चिमायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of विशालायाम्/दिशि implied)

• विशालायाम्: in the vast (area)
• विशालायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (of region/भूमि implied)

• पुष्करेषु: at Puṣkara
• पुष्करेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), बहुवचन (plural); place-name usage

• महात्मनः: O great-souled ones
• महात्मनः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative) बहुवचन in sense (Vedic/epic voc. form), addressing the listeners

• सुखम्: comfortably; in ease
• सुखम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative: 'comfortably')

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चरिष्यामः: we shall practice
• चरिष्यामः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• परम्: supreme; best
• परम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of तपोवनम्)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (referring to place/forest)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/कारणार्थक अव्यय (particle: 'indeed/for')

• तपोवनम्: a forest of austerities
• तपोवनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ('forest of austerity')

Context

Venerable descendant of the Bhrugus (sage Richika) said that the eldest son cannot be sold. "O King the youngest son, Sunaka, is my beloved son. You know, O King for that reason I will not give my yougest son".

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Puṣkara

FAQs

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

Dharma is supported by choosing a conducive environment for disciplined practice; serenity and suitability of place help sustain truthful vows and spiritual effort.

What is the narrative situation?

After noting hindrance elsewhere, Viśvāmitra proposes moving to Puṣkara in the west, described as an ideal place for penance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudence aligned with purpose—selecting a proper setting to uphold one’s commitment to tapas.