Shloka 28

Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154

Devanagari script

क्षीणस्यार्थाभियुक्तस्य श्मशानाभिमुखस्य च । बान्धवा यत्र तिष्ठन्ति तत्रान्यो नाधितिषछ्तति,“जो शरीरसे क्षीण हुआ हो, जिसपर कोई आर्थिक अभियोग लगाया गया हो तथा जो श्मशानकी ओर जा रहा हो, ऐसे अवसरोंपर उसके भाई-बन्धु ही उसके साथ खड़े होते हैं। दूसरा कोई वहाँ साथ नहीं देता

Transliteration

kṣīṇasyārthābhiyuktasya śmaśānābhimukhasya ca | bāndhavā yatra tiṣṭhanti tatrānyo nādhitiṣṭhati ||

Translation

قال بهيشما: «إذا وهن الجسد، وإذا تورّط المرء في تهمةٍ مالية، وإذا كان متوجهاً إلى موضع الحرق (أي على شفير الموت)، فلا يقف معه إلا ذوو قرباه. ففي مثل تلك اللحظات لا يبقى الغريب إلى جانبه حقاً».

Word by Word

क्षीणस्यof one who is emaciated/weak

अर्थाभियुक्तस्यof one accused/charged regarding wealth (financially prosecuted)

श्मशानाभिमुखस्यof one facing/going toward the cremation-ground

चand

बान्धवाःkinsmen/relatives

यत्रwhere

तिष्ठन्तिstand/remain

तत्रthere

अन्यःanother (person)

नnot

अधितिष्ठतिstands by/supports (stays with)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

śmaśāna (cremation ground)

bāndhava (kinsmen/relatives)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Support from the wider world is often contingent on advantage and circumstance; in severe crisis—illness, legal/financial accusation, and death—only close kin typically remain. The verse invites sober discernment about reliance, loyalty, and the duties of family.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and practical wisdom. Here he states a worldly observation: when someone is physically broken, embroiled in a monetary charge, or approaching death, companions fall away and only relatives tend to stand with him.