Shloka 19

Janamejaya’s Appeal for Pacification and Śaunaka’s Counsel on Humility (जनमेजय-शौनक संवादः)

Devanagari script

मुहूर्ताल्लब्धसंज्ञस्तु स पक्षी पक्षिघातिनम्‌ । उवाच तर्पयिष्ये त्वां मुहूर्त प्रतिपालय,थोड़ी देरमें उसे कुछ याद आया और उस पक्षीने बहेलिये से कहा--“अच्छा, थोड़ी देरतक ठहरिये। मैं आपकी तृप्ति करूँगा”

Transliteration

muhūrtāl labdhasaṃjñas tu sa pakṣī pakṣi-ghātinam | uvāca tarpayiṣye tvāṃ muhūrta pratipālaya ||

Translation

Regaining consciousness after a short while, the bird addressed the bird-slayer (the fowler): “Wait for a moment. I shall satisfy you.”

Word by Word

मुहूर्तात्from/after a short while

लब्धसंज्ञःhaving regained consciousness

तुbut/indeed

सःhe (that one)

पक्षीthe bird

पक्षिघातिनम्bird-slayer (fowler)

उवाचsaid

तर्पयिष्येI will satisfy

त्वाम्you

मुहूर्तम्for a short while

प्रतिपालयwait/hold on

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

pakṣī (the bird)

pakṣi-ghātin (the fowler/bird-slayer)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when harmed or threatened, one should act with presence of mind and dharmic intention—responding thoughtfully rather than impulsively, and upholding one’s chosen duty or moral commitment.

What is happening in the narrative?

A bird, having briefly lost consciousness, comes to its senses and speaks to the fowler who attacks birds, asking him to wait a moment and promising to ‘satisfy’ him—setting up a moral episode about conduct, restraint, and duty amid danger.