Shloka 11
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
Devanagari script
चक्षुनिमिषमात्रेण लघ्वस्त्रगतिगामिनी । विदेहानां पुरी सुभ्रूर्जनणाम कमलेक्षणा
Transliteration
cakṣu-nimiṣa-mātreṇa laghv-astra-gati-gāminī | videhānāṁ purī subhrūr jananām kamalekṣaṇā ||
Translation
Bhishma said: In the mere span of a blink, that lotus-eyed maiden—fair-browed and swift as a light missile—reached the city of the Videhas.
Word by Word
चक्षु-निमिष-मात्रेणin (only) the measure of an eye-blink
चक्षु-निमिष-मात्रेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootचक्षु + निमिष + मात्र
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
लघु-अस्त्र-गति-गामिनीshe who moves with the speed of swift missiles
लघु-अस्त्र-गति-गामिनी:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootलघु + अस्त्र + गति + गामिनी
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
विदेहानाम्of the Videhas
विदेहानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootविदेह
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
पुरीcity (capital)
पुरी:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपुरी
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
सुभ्रूःthe fair-browed (maiden)
सुभ्रूः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसुभ्रू
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
जनणाम्of people
जनणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootजन
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
कमल-ईक्षणाlotus-eyed
कमल-ईक्षणा:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकमल + ईक्षण
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhishmaV
VidehaV
Videha capital city (purī; traditionally Mithilā)A
astra (missile/weapon)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores extraordinary capability (speed likened to a missile) coupled with directed intent—power is meaningful when it serves a purpose, not when it is merely exhibited.
Bhishma describes a lotus-eyed maiden who, with astonishing swiftness—within a blink—travels to the capital city of the Videha realm (traditionally identified as Mithilā).