Shloka 36
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
Devanagari script
आपद्विनाशभूयिष्ठ गर्त: कार्य हि जीवितम्
Transliteration
āpadvināśabhūyiṣṭha gartaḥ kārya hi jīvitam
Translation
आपत्ति के समय जीवन मानो विनाश-भरे गहरे गर्त के समान हो जाता है; इसलिए प्रधान कर्तव्य यही है कि जीवन की रक्षा के लिए यथोचित उपाय किया जाए।
Word by Word
आपद्विनाशभूयिष्ठःmost destructive in calamity / chiefly causing ruin in distress
आपद्विनाशभूयिष्ठः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootआपद्-विनाश-भूयिष्ठ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
गर्तःa pit; a trap; a perilous hole
गर्तः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगर्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कार्यःto be done; to be undertaken
कार्यः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकृ (कृञ्) → कार्य (gerundive/obligatory)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हिindeed; for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
जीवितम्life; living
जीवितम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजीवित
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
In crisis (āpada), ordinary norms may be constrained by danger; the immediate ethical priority is to preserve life, because survival is the basis for fulfilling dharma and responsibilities afterward.
Bhīṣma, instructing on dharma in the Śānti Parva, characterizes calamity as a perilous ‘pit’ where destruction predominates, and advises that one should take necessary action with the aim of safeguarding life.