Shloka 22

उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel

Devanagari script

संकल्पनियमोपेत: फलाहारो जितेन्द्रिय: । नित्यं संनिहिताभिस्तु ओषधीभि: फलैस्तथा

Transliteration

saṅkalpaniyamopetaḥ phalāhāro jitendriyaḥ | nityaṃ saṃnihitābhis tu oṣadhībhiḥ phalais tathā

Translation

Bhīṣma said: Endowed with firm resolve and disciplined observances, living on fruits and having conquered his senses, he remained constantly supplied with medicinal herbs and with fruits as well.

Word by Word

• संकल्पनियमोपेतः: endowed with resolve and restraints
• संकल्पनियमोपेतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संकल्प-नियम-उपेत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• फलाहारः: one whose food is fruit; fruit-eater
• फलाहारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल-आहार
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जितेन्द्रियः: having conquered the senses; self-controlled
• जितेन्द्रियः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित-इन्द्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• संनिहिताभिः: by/with (things) kept ready/placed near
• संनिहिताभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संनिहित
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• ओषधीभिः: with herbs/medicinal plants
• ओषधीभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओषधि
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• फलैः: with fruits
• फलैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• तथा: likewise/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• oṣadhī (medicinal herbs)
• phala (fruits)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ascetic ethics: steadfast resolve (saṅkalpa), disciplined observance (niyama), restraint of the senses (jitendriyatā), and simple sustenance (phalāhāra) as marks of a dharmic life.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes a person (contextually an ascetic or disciplined practitioner) who lives on fruits, maintains strict self-control, and keeps medicinal herbs and fruits close at hand for regular sustenance and well-being.