Shloka 663

ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana

River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor

Devanagari script

क्षमस्व नचिरादिन्द्र त्वामप्युपगमिष्यति । इन्द्र! मैं सदा सावधान रहता था, तथापि कभी आलस्य न करनेवाले कालका यदि मुझपर आक्रमण हो गया तो तुमपर भी शीघ्र ही उस कालका आक्रमण होगा। इस कटु सत्यके लिये मुझे क्षमा करना

Transliteration

kṣamasva nacirād indra tvām apy upagamiṣyati |

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “Forgive me, O Indra. Before long, Time will come upon you as well. Even though I remained ever vigilant, if relentless Time could still strike me, then it will soon strike you too. Pardon me for speaking this bitter truth.”

Word by Word

• क्षमस्व: forgive (me)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षम्
• Form: Lot, Atmanepada, 2, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• चिरात्: after a long time; long hence
• चिरात्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिर

• इन्द्र: O Indra
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Accusative, Singular

• अपि: also; even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• उपगमिष्यति: will approach; will come upon
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-गम्
• Form: Lrt, Parasmaipada, 3, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Indra
• Kāla (Time/Death, implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

No one—however powerful or vigilant—can escape Kāla (Time/Death). Speaking this truth may be harsh, yet it is ethically necessary to cultivate humility, detachment, and right understanding of impermanence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma addresses Indra and asks forgiveness for stating a painful reality: since Time has overtaken Bhīṣma despite his carefulness, Indra too will inevitably be approached by Time. The line underscores the universal reach of mortality.