Shloka 21

Śreyas-nirdeśa (Discerning the Superior Good): Nārada–Gālava Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

दुर्बलं बलवन्तं च प्राज्ञ शूरं जडं कविम्‌

Transliteration

durbalaṁ balavantaṁ ca prājña śūraṁ jaḍaṁ kavim

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “(One should discern rightly among) the weak and the strong, the wise and the heroic, the dull-witted and the poet.”

Word by Word

• दुर्बलम्: weak (one/thing)
• दुर्बलम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्बल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• बलवन्तम्: strong (one)
• बलवन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• प्राज्ञम्: wise (one)
• प्राज्ञम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शूरम्: brave/heroic (one)
• शूरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• जडम्: dull/stupid (one)
• जडम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जड
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कविम्: poet/sage
• कविम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma