Shloka 42

Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)

Devanagari script

कि नु शक्‍्यं मया कर्तु गुरुदाराभिरक्षणे

Transliteration

ki nu śakyaṃ mayā kartuṃ gurudārābhirakṣaṇe

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „Was kann ich denn tun, um die Gattin meines Lehrers zu schützen? Wie soll ich handeln, um sie zu bewahren?“

Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative, singular

• नु: indeed/then (interrogative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नु

• शक्यम्: possible
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: instrumental, singular

• कर्तुम्: to do
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: infinitive (tumun)

• गुरु-दार-अभिरक्षणे: in the protection of the teacher's wife
• गुरु-दार-अभिरक्षणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरुदाराभिरक्षण
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• guru (teacher/preceptor)
• gurudārāḥ (the teacher’s wife)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of guru-dharma: reverence for the teacher extends to safeguarding the teacher’s household, especially the teacher’s wife. It also conveys humility and moral seriousness—recognizing limits and seeking the right course when a duty is difficult.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma speaks in a reflective, questioning tone about his capacity to fulfill a specific obligation: protecting his preceptor’s wife. The line frames a dilemma of action and responsibility within the broader dharma-discourse of the Anushasana Parva.