Shloka 4

पापात्म-धर्मात्म-लक्षणम् तथा निर्वेदेन मोक्षमार्गः | Marks of the Sinful and the Righteous; Dispassion (Nirveda) as a Path to Liberation

Devanagari script

चिरकारी महाप्राज्ञो गौतमस्याभवत्‌ सुतः । चिरेण सर्वकार्याणि विमृश्यार्थान्‌ प्रपद्यते

Transliteration

Cirakārī mahāprājño Gautamasyābhavat sutaḥ | cireṇa sarvakāryāṇi vimṛśyārthān prapadyate ||

Translation

Bhishma said: ‘Gautama had a son named Cirakārī, a man of great wisdom. After carefully examining the purpose and implications of every duty, he would undertake all actions only after due delay.’

Word by Word

• चिरकारी: Chirakari (one who acts after a long time; proper name)
• चिरकारी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिरकारी (प्रातिपदिक; चिरं करोति इति)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाप्राज्ञः: very wise
• महाप्राज्ञः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाप्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गौतमस्य: of Gautama
• गौतमस्य: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अभवत्: was/became
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सुतः: son
• सुतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• चिरेण: after a long time; slowly
• चिरेण: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: instrumental-form used adverbially

• सर्वकार्याणि: all tasks/acts
• सर्वकार्याणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वकार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• विमृश्य: having reflected/considered
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-मृश् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), Parasmaipada (usage)

• अर्थान्: meanings/purposes/matters
• अर्थान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• प्रपद्यते: undertakes/sets about; resorts to
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-पद् (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Gautama
• Cirakari (Cirakārī)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

One should not rush into action; ethical conduct is strengthened by careful reflection on duty and consequences before proceeding.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma introduces the sage Gautama’s son Cirakārī, characterizing him as exceptionally wise and known for acting only after prolonged deliberation, setting up an exemplum about prudent decision-making.