Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 16

Dehānta (Cyavana) and Upapatti: Kāśyapa’s Questions and the Siddha’s Account of Death, Pain, and Karmic Re-embodiment

Devanagari script

इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत आश्वमेधिकपर्वके अन्तर्गत अनुगीतापर्वमें सोलहवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ

Transliteration

atyartha-balavān ūṣmā śarīre parikopitaḥ | bhinatti jīva-sthānāni marmāṇi viddhi tattvataḥ ||

Translation

जब शरीर में ऊष्मा (पित्त) अत्यन्त बलवान होकर कुपित हो उठती है, तब वह जीव के मर्मस्थानों—जीवन-आधारों—को विदीर्ण कर देती है। इस सत्य को ठीक-ठीक समझो।

Word by Word

• अत्यर्थम्: excessively, very much
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)

• बलवान्: strong, powerful
• बलवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उष्मा: heat
• उष्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्मन्/उष्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शरीरे: in the body
• शरीरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• परिकोपितः: enraged, aggravated
• परिकोपितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि+कुप् (धातु) → परिकोपित (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भिनत्ति: splits, pierces, breaks
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• जीवस्थानानि: vital seats/abodes of life
• जीवस्थानानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवस्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• मर्माणि: vital points, vulnerable spots
• मर्माणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• विद्धि: know, understand
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तत्त्वतः: in truth, correctly, as it really is
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)

Speaker

सिद्ध उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Siddha (speaker)
• ūṣmā (bodily heat)
• pitta (implied by context)
• śarīra (body)
• marman (vital points)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse warns that when inner bodily heat (linked with aggravated pitta) becomes excessive, it damages vital points and can destroy life; therefore, maintaining balance through restraint and proper conduct is a practical aspect of dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Within the Anugita instruction, a Siddha continues a didactic explanation about the body and life-forces, emphasizing how disturbed internal conditions can harm the vital seats of life and the marmas.