Shloka 8

Devanagari script

विचित्रत्वात्‌ तु चित्तानां मनुष्याणां विशेषत: । चित्तवैक्लव्यमासाद्य सा सा बुद्धि: प्रजायते,“सभी प्राणियोंके विशेषतः मनुष्योंके चित्त एक-दूसरेसे विलक्षण तथा भिन्न-भिन्न प्रकारके होते हैं; अतः विभिन्न घटनाओंके कारण जो चित्तमें व्याकुलता होती है, उसका आश्रय लेकर भिन्न-भिन्न प्रकारकी बुद्धि पैदा हो जाती है

Transliteration

vicitratvāt tu cittānāṁ manuṣyāṇāṁ viśeṣataḥ | cittavaiklavyam āsādya sā sā buddhiḥ prajāyate ||

Translation

For minds are diverse—especially among human beings—and differ in many ways. When the mind is shaken and unsettled by events, taking shelter in that agitation, this or that kind of judgment is born.

Word by Word

विचित्रत्वात्from/owing to diversity

तुbut/indeed

चित्तानाम्of minds

मनुष्याणाम्of humans

विशेषतःespecially

चित्तवैक्लव्यम्mental agitation/distress

आसाद्यhaving reached/attained

साthat (such)

साthat (various)

बुद्धिःunderstanding/intellect

प्रजायतेarises/is produced

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

human beings (manuṣyāḥ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Human minds differ greatly, and when the mind becomes disturbed, that disturbance shapes the kind of intellect and decision that arises. The verse highlights how inner instability can lead to divergent judgments, implying the ethical need for steadiness and discernment, especially in crisis.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya offers a reflective explanation about why people form different intentions and conclusions: because minds are varied, and agitation caused by events produces different kinds of resolve. In the Sauptika context, this frames the emergence of extreme or divergent decisions amid the turmoil following the war.