Shloka 57

Śama-prāptiḥ — Gautamī–Lubdhaka–Pannaga–Mṛtyu–Kāla-saṃvāda

Restraint through the Analysis of Karma and Time

Devanagari script

पन्नग! सूर्य, चन्द्रमा, जल, वायु, इन्द्र, अग्नि, आकाश, पृथ्वी, मित्र, पर्जन्य, वसु, अदिति, नदी, समुद्र तथा भाव और अभाव--ये सभी कालके द्वारा ही रचे जाते हैं और काल ही इनका संहार कर देता है ।। एवं ज्ञात्वा कथं मां त्वं सदोषं सर्प मन्यसे । अथ चैवंगते दोषे मयि त्वमपि दोषवान्‌

Translation

“O serpent! The Sun, the Moon, water, wind, Indra, fire, space, earth, Mitra, Parjanya, the Vasus, Aditi, rivers, the ocean, and existence and non-existence—all these are fashioned by Time alone, and Time itself brings their destruction. Knowing this, how do you deem me at fault, O serpent? And if, even in such a state of things, blame may be laid upon me, then you too are blameworthy.”

Word by Word

पन्नगO serpent

सूर्यthe Sun

चन्द्रमाthe Moon

जलwater

वायुwind

इन्द्रIndra

अग्निfire / Agni

आकाशspace / sky

पृथ्वीearth

मित्रMitra

पर्जन्यParjanya (rain-god)

वसुVasu (a deity class/name)

अदितिAditi

नदीriver

समुद्रocean

तथाand also / likewise

भावexistence / being

अभावnon-existence / absence

येwhich / those who

सर्वेall

कालेनby Time

एवindeed / only

रच्यन्तेare created / are fashioned

चand

कालTime

एवindeed / alone

एषाम्of these

संहारम्destruction / dissolution

करोतिdoes / brings about

एवम्thus

ज्ञात्वाhaving known

कथम्how?

माम्me

त्वम्you

सदोषम्faulty / with दोष

सर्पO snake

मन्यसेyou think / consider

अथthen / moreover

चand

एवम्thus

गतेwhen it is so / in this situation (lit. when thus gone)

दोषेin the fault / in the दोष

मयिin me

त्वम्you

अपिalso / even

दोषवान्possessing दोष / at fault

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Sandhi Notes