Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

अप्रमत्तेन ते भाव्यं सदा प्रति पुरन्दरम्‌

Transliteration

apramattena te bhāvyaṃ sadā prati purandaram

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “You must remain ever vigilant and self-possessed, always keeping your attention directed against Purandara (Indra)—that is, against the powerful forces that can overwhelm one’s resolve.”

Word by Word

• अप्रमत्तेन: with vigilance; by being unheedful-less (careful)
• अप्रमत्तेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रमत्त (प्रमद् धातु से क्त; नञ्-पूर्वक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• ते: for you
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Dative, Singular

• भाव्यम्: should be (so); must act/behave
• भाव्यम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू धातु (भाव्यत्/तव्यत्-प्रत्यय; भाव्य)
• Form: Obligative (gerundive: ‘should be/done’), —, Singular

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

• प्रति: towards; in relation to
• प्रति: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति

• पुरन्दरम्: Purandara (Indra)
• पुरन्दरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरन्दर (इन्द्र-नाम)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Purandara (Indra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Maintain constant vigilance and avoid negligence; ethical steadiness requires sustained alertness against powerful temptations or destabilizing forces symbolized by ‘Purandara’ (Indra).

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is instructing the listener with a concise injunction: one must always act with careful attention and preparedness, framing the counsel in relation to Purandara (Indra) as a figure of formidable power.