Shloka 11

Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

चक्षुनिमिषमात्रेण लघ्वस्त्रगतिगामिनी । विदेहानां पुरी सुभ्रूर्जनणाम कमलेक्षणा,उसने योगशक्तिसे अपना पहला शरीर छोड़कर दूसरा परम सुन्दर रूप धारण कर लिया। अब उसका प्रत्येक अंग अनिन्द्य सौन्दर्यसे प्रकाशित होने लगा। सुन्दर भौंहोंवाली वह कमलनयनी बाला बाणोंके समान तीव्र गतिसे चलकर पलभरमें विदेहदेशकी राजधानी मिथिलामें जा पहुँची

Transliteration

cakṣu-nimiṣa-mātreṇa laghv-astra-gati-gāminī | videhānāṁ purī subhrūr jananām kamalekṣaṇā ||

Translation

চকুৰ পলকতে, লঘু অস্ত্ৰৰ দৰে বেগৱতী, সুন্দৰ ভ্ৰূবিশিষ্ট কমলনয়না সুলভা বিদেহসকলৰ নগৰীত—য’ত ৰজা জনক আছিল—উপনীত হ’ল।

Word by Word

चक्षु-निमिष-मात्रेणin (only) the measure of an eye-blink

लघु-अस्त्र-गति-गामिनीshe who moves with the speed of swift missiles

विदेहानाम्of the Videhas

पुरीcity (capital)

सुभ्रूःthe fair-browed (maiden)

जनणाम्of people

कमल-ईक्षणाlotus-eyed

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Videha

Videha capital city (purī; traditionally Mithilā)

astra (missile/weapon)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores extraordinary capability (speed likened to a missile) coupled with directed intent—power is meaningful when it serves a purpose, not when it is merely exhibited.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a lotus-eyed maiden who, with astonishing swiftness—within a blink—travels to the capital city of the Videha realm (traditionally identified as Mithilā).