Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 29
Kośa, Bala, and Maryādā: Treasury, Capacity, and Enforceable Limits (कोश-बल-मर्यादा)
Devanagari script
न शंखलिखितां वृत्ति शक््यमास्थाय जीवितुम् । विशेषत: कुरुश्रेष्ठ प्रजापालनमीप्सया
Translation
कुरुश्रेष्ठ! कोई भी केवल ललाट-लिखित भाग्य के भरोसे जीवन-निर्वाह नहीं कर सकता; विशेषतः जो राजा प्रजापालन की इच्छा रखता हो, उसके लिए तो भाग्य के सहारे चलना सर्वथा असंभव है।
Word by Word
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
शङ्खलिखिताम्written by fate (lit. written on the forehead)
शङ्खलिखिताम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootशङ्खलिखिता
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
वृत्तिम्means of livelihood, course of living
वृत्तिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवृत्ति
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
शक्यम्possible
शक्यम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootशक्य
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
आस्थायhaving relied on, having taken recourse to
आस्थाय:
TypeVerb
Rootआ-स्था
FormAbsolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada/Atmanepada-neutral (gerund)
जीवितुम्to live
जीवितुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootजीव्
FormInfinitive (Tumun)
विशेषतःespecially
विशेषतः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootविशेषतः
कुरुश्रेष्ठO best of the Kurus
कुरुश्रेष्ठ:
TypeNoun
Rootकुरुश्रेष्ठ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
प्रजापालनम्protection/governance of subjects
प्रजापालनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजापालन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
ईप्सयाby desire, with the intention
ईप्सया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootईप्सा
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes