Shloka 1936

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

Devanagari script

एवमीहासमायुक्तं मृत्युरादाय गच्छति । मनुष्य सोचता है कि यह काम तो मैंने कर लिया

Transliteration

evam īhā-samāyuktaṃ mṛtyur ādāya gacchati |

Translation

Dijo Bhishma: «El hombre piensa: “Esta tarea ya la he hecho; aquella aún debo hacerla; este otro trabajo está hecho a medias y lo restante queda pendiente”. Así, mientras se afana en atar planes y propósitos, la Muerte llega y se lo lleva».

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• इह: here, in this world
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• आशा: by hope/expectation
• आशा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• समायुक्तम्: endowed/connected (with)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-युक्त (युज्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मृत्युः: death
• मृत्युः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आदाय: having taken/carrying off
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा (दा)
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• गच्छति: goes, departs
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Parasmaipada, Third, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Death (Mṛtyu)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Human beings get entangled in endless planning—counting what is done and what remains—yet death can arrive at any moment. Therefore one should cultivate awareness of impermanence, prioritize dharma, and avoid complacency based on future intentions.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction to Yudhishthira in the Shanti Parva, he describes a common human mindset of being busy with ongoing projects. He then personifies Death as coming and taking such a person away, emphasizing the unpredictability of life.