Shloka 15

Devanagari script

शत्रुभिर्वशमानीतो हीन: स्थानादनुत्तमात्‌ | वैरोचने किमाश्रित्य शोचितव्ये न शोचसि,“विरोचनकुमार! तुम शत्रुओंके वशमें पड़े और उत्तम स्थान (राज्य) से भ्रष्ट हुए--इस प्रकार शोचनीय दशामें पड़कर भी तुम किस बलका सहारा लेकर शोक नहीं करते हो?

Transliteration

śatrubhir vaśamānīto hīnaḥ sthānād anuttamāt | vairocane kim āśritya śocitavye na śocasi ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “O son of Virocana, you have been brought under the control of your enemies and have fallen from an unsurpassed station (sovereignty). In a condition so fit for grief, relying on what strength or support do you refrain from lamentation?”

Word by Word

शत्रुभिःby enemies

वशम्subjection, control

आनीतःbrought (having been brought)

हीनःdeprived, fallen

स्थानात्from (your) position/state

अनुत्तमात्from the unsurpassed/excellent (one)

वैरोचनेO Vairocana (son of Virocana)

किम्what

आश्रित्यhaving relied on, taking refuge in

शोचितव्येin a lamentable (situation), when it should be lamented

नnot

शोचसिyou grieve

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Vairocana (as patronymic address: son of Virocana)

Enemies (śatru)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse probes the basis of inner steadiness: when external power and status are lost and one is subjugated, true strength is shown by the support one relies on—such as discernment, dharma, or self-control—rather than being swept away by grief.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma addresses a figure called “Vairocana” (son/descendant of Virocana), noting that he has been overcome by enemies and fallen from a supreme position. Bhishma challenges him: despite being in a lamentable state, what inner refuge or power enables him not to mourn?