Shloka 6

दीर्घदर्शी–दीर्घसूत्र–संप्रतिपत्तिमान् आख्यानम्

The Parable of Foresight, Procrastination, and Presence of Mind

Devanagari script

अतिथर्माद्‌ बल॑ मन्ये बलादू धर्म: प्रवर्तते । बले प्रतिष्ठितो धर्मों धरण्यामिव जड़मम्‌,मैं धर्मसे भी बलको ही अधिक श्रेष्ठ मानता हूँ; क्योंकि बलसे धर्मकी प्रवृत्ति होती है। जैसे चलने-फिरनेवाले सभी प्राणी पृथ्वीपर ही स्थित हैं, उसी प्रकार धर्म बलपर ही प्रतिष्ठित है

Translation

I deem strength superior even to dharma, for from strength the course of dharma proceeds. As all moving creatures stand upon the earth, so dharma is established upon strength.

Word by Word

अतिधर्मात्than (what is) beyond dharma / than dharma (as exceeded)

बलम्strength, power

मन्येI think, I consider

बलात्from strength; due to strength

धर्मःdharma, righteousness, law

प्रवर्ततेarises, proceeds, becomes active

बलेin/with strength; on strength

प्रतिष्ठितःestablished, founded

धर्मःdharma

धरण्याम्on the earth

इवlike, as

जङ्गमम्moving (creature); mobile

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes