Shloka 23
Devanagari script
पक्षिणो वर्षवेगेन हता लीनास्तदा भवन् । मृगसिंहवराहाश्व स्थलम॒श्रित्य शेरते
Transliteration
pakṣiṇo varṣavegena hatā līnāstadā bhavan | mṛgasiṁhavarāhāśva sthalam āśritya śerate ||
Translation
Bhishma said: Driven down by the force of the rain, the birds were struck and fell silent, hiding themselves. Deer, lions, boars, and horses, taking refuge on higher ground, lay there—each seeking safety when nature’s violence overwhelms.
Word by Word
पक्षिणःbirds
पक्षिणः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपक्षिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
वर्ष-वेगेनby the force of the rain
वर्ष-वेगेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootवर्ष-वेग
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
हताःstruck/overwhelmed
हताः:
TypeAdjective
Rootहन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
लीनाःhidden, taking shelter
लीनाः:
TypeAdjective
Rootली
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तदाthen
तदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा
अभवन्became/were
अभवन्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural
मृग-सिंह-वराह-अश्वाःdeer, lions, boars, and horses
मृग-सिंह-वराह-अश्वाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमृग-सिंह-वराह-अश्व
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
स्थलम्dry ground/high ground
स्थलम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootस्थल
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आश्रित्यhaving resorted to, taking shelter in
आश्रित्य:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootआ-श्रि
FormAbsolutive (Ktva/lyap)
शेरतेlie down, rest
शेरते:
TypeVerb
Rootशी
FormPresent (Lat), 3rd, Plural, Atmanepada
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
भ
भीष्म (Bhīṣma)प
पक्षिणः (birds)म
मृग (deer)स
सिंह (lion)व
वराह (boar)अ
अश्व (horse)स
स्थल (higher ground/land)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
Adversity levels all beings: when overwhelming forces arise, wisdom lies in seeking appropriate refuge and practicing restraint, not in relying on strength or status.
Bhishma describes a violent downpour: birds are battered and hide, while various animals—deer, lions, boars, and horses—move to higher ground and lie there for safety.