Shloka 20

बलीन्द्रसंवादः — Kāla, Anityatā, and the Limits of Agency

Mahābhārata 12.217

Devanagari script

अन्तकाले बलोत्कर्षाच्छनै: कुर्यादनातुर: । एवं युक्तेन मनसा ज्ञानं यदुपपद्यते,इस प्रकार योगयुक्त मनके द्वारा जो ज्ञान प्राप्त होता है, उसे जीवनके अन्त समयतक पूरी शक्ति लगाकर धीरे-धीरे प्राप्त ही कर लेना चाहिये। इस कार्यमें धैर्य नहीं छोड़ना चाहिये

Transliteration

antakāle balotkarṣāc chanaiḥ kuryād anāturaḥ | evaṁ yuktena manasā jñānaṁ yad upapadyate ||

Translation

Bhishma said: At the final stage of life, one who is not overwhelmed should, by a steady exertion of strength, proceed gradually. Thus, with a mind disciplined by Yoga, whatever true knowledge becomes attainable should be secured—slowly, persistently, and without abandoning patience until life’s end.

Word by Word

अन्तकालेat the final time (at life's end)

बलोत्कर्षात्from/through the intensification of strength (by exertion)

शनैःgradually, slowly

कुर्यात्should do / should practice

अनातुरःnot distressed; unhurried; composed

एवम्thus, in this manner

युक्तेनby (a) disciplined/connected

मनसाby the mind

ज्ञानम्knowledge

यत्which

उपपद्यतेarises; is obtained; comes about

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Geographic Context

Sandhi Notes