Shloka 10
Chatra–Upānah Dāna: Origin Narrative
Jamadagni–Reṇukā–Sūrya Saṃvāda
शृणोमि कालो हिंसते धर्मवीर्य सो<थयं प्राप्तो वर्तते धर्मपीडा । पुराधर्मो वर्तते नेह यावत् तावद् गच्छाम: सुरलोकं॑ चिराय
śṛṇomi kālo hiṃsate dharmavīryaṃ so ’thayaṃ prāpto vartate dharmapīḍā | purā dharmo vartate nehā yāvat tāvad gacchāmaḥ suralokaṃ cirāya ||
Bhīṣma dit : «J’ai entendu dire que le Temps (kāla) abat jusqu’à la vigueur du dharma. Ce même Temps est arrivé maintenant ; voilà pourquoi le dharma est opprimé et blessé. Avant que l’adharma ne se répande en ce monde, avant que l’antique ordre du dharma ne disparaisse ici, partons pour le monde des dieux (svarga) pour longtemps.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames moral collapse as a function of Kāla (Time): even dharma’s efficacy can be weakened by the inevitable turning of time. The ethical warning is to recognize signs of dharma’s oppression and to act before adharma becomes entrenched.
Bhīṣma reflects on the present age as one in which Time has arrived to afflict dharma. He urges departure to Suraloka before the old dharma-order vanishes and adharma expands in the world.