Shloka 30

Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)

Devanagari script

दुर्व्याह्वताच्छड्कमानो दुष्कृताद्‌ दुरधिषछितात्‌ | दुरासिताद्‌ दुर्वजितादिल्धितादड्रचेष्टितात्‌

Transliteration

durvyāhṛtāc chaḍkamāno duṣkṛtād duradhiṣṭhitāt | durāsitād durvajitād īḍhitād duṣceṣṭitāt ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: One should always remain vigilant so that no improper word escapes one’s mouth and no wrongful act is committed—so that in standing up, sitting on a seat, walking, making gestures, or moving any limb, there is no breach of decorum or disrespect. Such constant self-watchfulness is a safeguard of righteous conduct.

Word by Word

• दुर्व्याहृतात्: from improper speech/utterance
• दुर्व्याहृतात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्व्याहृत
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• छड्कमानः: avoiding/warding off (intending to avoid)
• छड्कमानः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: छड्क
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दुष्कृतात्: from evil deed/sin
• दुष्कृतात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्कृत
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• दुरधिष्ठितात्: from being ill-governed/ill-controlled
• दुरधिष्ठितात्: Apadana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरधिष्ठित
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• दुरासितात्: from sitting improperly
• दुरासितात्: Apadana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरासित
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• दुर्वजितात्: from improper movement/going
• दुर्वजितात्: Apadana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्वजित
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• दुर्ललितात्: from improper gestures/indecorous behavior
• दुर्ललितात्: Apadana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्ललित
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• दुरचेष्टितात्: from improper actions/gesticulations
• दुरचेष्टितात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुरचेष्टित
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Constant vigilance over speech and bodily behavior is essential to dharma: one must prevent rude words, wrongful deeds, and even subtle discourtesies in posture, movement, and gestures.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous living, Bhīṣma continues advising on practical ethics—how a person should regulate everyday conduct so that disrespect or impropriety does not arise through speech or bodily actions.