Shloka 12
Devanagari script
स्थिता सा तु मुहूर्त वै भर्तु: शापभयाच्छुभा
Transliteration
sthitā sā tu muhūrta vai bhartuḥ śāpabhayāc chubhā
Translation
Bhīṣma said: “She, auspicious in nature, remained there for a short while—held back by fear of her husband’s curse.”
Word by Word
स्थिताstood; remained
स्थिता:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootस्थित (स्था धातु, क्त)
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
साshe
सा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम)
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
तुbut; however
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
मुहूर्तम्for a moment; for a short time
मुहूर्तम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमुहूर्त
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
वैindeed; surely
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
भर्तुःof (her) husband
भर्तुः:
TypeNoun
Rootभर्तृ
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
शापभयात्from fear of a curse
शापभयात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootशापभय
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
शुभाauspicious; fair (lady)
शुभा:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootशुभ
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhishmaA
a woman (unnamed in this half-verse)H
husband (bhartṛ, unnamed)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear of a husband’s curse or wrath can govern behavior, pointing to the ethical complexity of marital authority and the inner conflict between duty, fear, and independent judgment.
Bhishma describes a woman who pauses and remains for a brief moment because she is afraid of her husband’s curse, indicating hesitation or restraint at a critical point in the story.