Shloka 36

आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः

Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca

Devanagari script

आपद्विनाशभूयिष्ठ गर्त: कार्य हि जीवितम्‌

Transliteration

āpadvināśabhūyiṣṭha gartaḥ kārya hi jīvitam

Translation

Bhishma said: “In times of calamity, life itself becomes a deep pit—one dominated by the threat of ruin. Therefore, one must act with the primary aim of preserving life.”

Word by Word

• आपद्विनाशभूयिष्ठः: most destructive in calamity / chiefly causing ruin in distress
• आपद्विनाशभूयिष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आपद्-विनाश-भूयिष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गर्तः: a pit; a trap; a perilous hole
• गर्तः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कार्यः: to be done; to be undertaken
• कार्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (कृञ्) → कार्य (gerundive/obligatory)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हि: indeed; for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• जीवितम्: life; living
• जीवितम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma