Shloka 44

Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)

Devanagari script

स सुप्त इव चाण्डाल: श्लेष्मापिहितलोचन: । परिभिजन्नस्वरो रूक्ष: प्रोवाचाप्रियदर्शन:,वह चाण्डाल सोया हुआ जान पड़ता था। उसकी आँखें कीचड़से बंद-सी हो गयी थीं; परंतु वह जागता था। वह देखनेमें बड़ा भयानक था। स्वभावका रूखा भी प्रतीत होता था। मुनिको आया देख वह फटे हुए स्वरमें बोल उठा

Transliteration

sa supta iva cāṇḍālaḥ śleṣmāpihita-locanaḥ | paribhijann asvaro rūkṣaḥ provācāpriya-darśanaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma dijo: El Caṇḍāla parecía estar dormido, con los ojos como sellados por la flema. Sin embargo, estaba despierto. Terrible de ver y de áspera condición, habló con una voz rota y chirriante. Esta imagen enmarca la tensión ética entre juzgar por la apariencia exterior y discernir la conciencia y la intención interiores.

Word by Word

सःhe/that (person)

सुप्तःasleep

इवas if/like

चाण्डालःa caṇḍāla (outcaste)

श्लेष्मापिहितलोचनःwhose eyes were covered with phlegm/mucus

परिभिजन्splitting/cracking (i.e., broken)

अस्वरःvoiceless/hoarse (without proper voice)

रूक्षःharsh/rough

प्रोवाचsaid/spoke forth

अप्रियदर्शनःof unpleasant appearance

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Caṇḍāla

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse sets up an ethical contrast: outward signs—uncleanliness, harshness, frightening appearance—can mislead moral judgment. It prepares the listener to consider that dharma requires discernment beyond surface impressions, especially regarding marginalized persons.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a Caṇḍāla who looks asleep with eyes crusted over, yet is awake. He appears frightening and rough, and then speaks in a broken, harsh voice—introducing a charged encounter that tests perception and moral response.