Panchatantra · Sanskrit Story

A Mother's Grief — The Loss of Damodar

पुत्रशोकः

Vrindavanlal Verma — झाँसी की रानी; Gangadhar Rao papers, Jhansi · Intermediate Sanskrit

Moral · नीतिः

धीरः शोकम् हृदये धृत्वा कर्तव्यम् पालयति।

Dhīraḥ śokam hṛdaye dhṛtvā kartavyam pālayati.

The steadfast one holds grief in the heart and still fulfils duty.

The Child Falls Ill

चतुर्मासानन्तरम् दामोदरराव रुग्णः अभवत्। वैद्याः सर्वथा उपचारम् अकुर्वन् — परन्तु व्याधिः वर्धमानः आसीत्। लक्ष्मीबाई रात्रिन्दिवम् पुत्रस्य शय्यासमीपे उपविशति स्म। "देव! मम पुत्रं रक्ष!" इति सा अरोदत्। परन्तु नियतिम् कोऽपि परिवर्तयितुम् न शक्नोति।

After four months, Damodar Rao became ill. The doctors tried every treatment — but the illness kept growing. Lakshmibai sat night and day near her son's bed. "O God! Protect my son!" she wept. But no one can change fate.

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