Shloka 126

आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः

Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca

Devanagari script

अकृत्वा संविदं काज्चित्‌ सहसा समवपष्लुत: । कृतज्ञं कृतकर्माणं कच्चिन्मां नाभिशंकसे

Transliteration

akṛtvā saṁvidaṁ kāñcit sahasā samavapluṭaḥ | kṛtajñaṁ kṛtakarmāṇaṁ kaccin māṁ nābhiśaṅkase ||

Translation

Bhīṣma dit : «Mon frère ! Sans avoir conclu le moindre accord, sans même un bref échange, pourquoi t’es-tu soudain glissé dans ce terrier ? Je te suis reconnaissant ; en protégeant ta vie, j’ai aussi accompli pour toi un grand service. Tu ne nourris aucun soupçon à mon égard, n’est-ce pas ?»

Word by Word

• {'akṛtvā': 'having not done

• without doing', 'saṁvidam': 'agreement, understanding, prior arrangement

• also a conversation/consultation', 'kāñcit': 'any (at all), some', 'sahasā': 'suddenly, rashly, all at once', 'samavapluṭaḥ': 'having plunged/entered into

• having slipped into (a hole/burrow)', 'kṛtajñam': 'grateful

• one who recognizes a benefit received', 'kṛtakarmāṇam': 'one who has done a deed

• one whose task has been accomplished', 'kaccit': 'whether indeed? (interrogative particle expressing concern)', 'mām': 'me', 'na': 'not', 'abhiśaṅkase': 'you suspect, you mistrust'}

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical expectations around trust and gratitude: one should not act abruptly without consultation, and one should not repay protection or benefaction with suspicion. It underscores the moral importance of clear communication and recognizing help received.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma addresses someone who has suddenly entered a burrow without any prior discussion. He reminds the person that he protected their life and asks anxiously whether they have begun to suspect him despite that help.