Shloka 46

Adhyāya 166: Kṛtaghna-doṣa (कृतघ्नदोषः) — the fault of ingratitude and the limits of expiation

Devanagari script

भ्रूगहा55हवमध्ये तु शुद्ध्यते शस्त्रपातत:

Transliteration

bhrūgāhāhavamadhye tu śuddhyate śastrapātataḥ

Translation

Bhīṣma said: Even in the very midst of a fierce battle, one becomes purified through the falling (use) of weapons—i.e., by meeting the ordeal of combat in accordance with one’s duty, without deceit or unrighteous intent.

Word by Word

• भृगु-हवमध्ये: in the midst of the Bhṛgus’ sacrifice/call (i.e., in the Bhṛgu-invocation context)
• भृगु-हवमध्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु + हव + मध्य
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• शुद्ध्यते: is purified / becomes pure
• शुद्ध्यते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada, Active (middle)

• शस्त्रपाततः: from the falling/striking of a weapon
• शस्त्रपाततः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्रपात
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• śastra (weapons)
• āhava (battle)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma frames righteous combat (performed as kṣātra-dharma, without adharma such as treachery) as a means of moral purification: enduring and engaging the hardships of battle in a duty-bound way can cleanse one of faults, much like other prescribed disciplines.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma after the war, Bhīṣma continues advising on the duties and ethical framework of warriors. This line emphasizes that even the violent arena of battle can be spiritually consequential when governed by dharma.