Shloka 946

Devanagari script

अनिवृत्तस्य कालस्य क्षयं प्राप्तो न मुच्यते । “कालपर किसीका भी वश नहीं चलता। वह सदा सावधान रहकर सम्पूर्ण भूतोंको पकाता रहता है। वह कभी लौटनेवाला नहीं है। ऐसे कालके अधीन हुआ प्राणी उससे छुटकारा नहीं पाता है

Transliteration

anivṛttasya kālasya kṣayaṁ prāpto na mucyate |

Translation

Bhīṣma says: One who has come within the reach of Time that never turns back is not released from its consuming power. Time is beyond anyone’s control; ever watchful, it ripens and wears down all beings, and since it does not return, a creature subjected to it finds no escape.

Word by Word

अनिवृत्तस्यof the non-returning (time)

कालस्यof time

क्षयम्destruction, end

प्राप्तःhaving reached / having met with

नnot

मुच्यतेis released, is freed

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Kāla (Time)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Time (kāla) is irreversible and unconquerable; once a being falls under its consuming course, there is no escape. Therefore one should not postpone dharmic action, self-discipline, and right understanding, since delay is defeated by the certainty of change and decay.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on wisdom and conduct. Here he emphasizes the inescapability of Time as a moral reminder: human plans and power are limited, so one must live with vigilance and align life with dharma before Time carries everything toward decline.