Shloka 10
The Thirteen Inner Adversaries (Trayodaśa Doṣāḥ): Origins and Pacification
भीष्म उवाच एवमुक्तस्तत: प्राह शाल्मलि: प्रहसन्निव । पवन त्वं च मे क्रुद्धों दर्शयात्मानमात्मना
bhīṣma uvāca evam uktas tataḥ prāha śālmalī prahasann iva | pavana tvaṃ ca me kruddho darśayātmānam ātmanā ||
Bhīṣma dit : Ainsi interpellé, Śālmalī répondit, comme en ricanant : « Ô dieu du Vent, si tu es courroucé contre moi, alors révèle-toi : déploie toute ta puissance par ta propre force. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how mockery and pride can provoke a display of force, implying an ethical warning: speech should be restrained and humble, because taunting power invites consequences and escalates conflict.
Bhishma narrates that after Pavana speaks, Śālmalī responds with a laugh-like, taunting tone, challenging the Wind-god—if he is truly angry, he should reveal himself and demonstrate his full strength.