Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 38
Śara-śayyā-sthita-bhīṣma-saṃvāda-prastāvaḥ
The Prelude to Questioning Bhīṣma on the Bed of Arrows
Devanagari script
अप्रतिब्रुवतः कष्टो दोषो हि भविता प्रभो
Transliteration
apratibruvataḥ kaṣṭo doṣo hi bhavitā prabho
Translation
हे प्रभो, यदि कोई प्रत्युत्तर न दे—स्पष्ट उत्तर या सुधार न करे—तो अवश्य ही भारी दोष उत्पन्न होता है।
Word by Word
अप्रतिब्रुवतःof (one) not replying / not contradicting
अप्रतिब्रुवतः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअ-प्रति-√ब्रू (ब्रवीति)
Formशतृ (वर्तमानकाले), परस्मैपदी-प्रयोगार्थक (कर्तरि), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
कष्टःpainful, grievous
कष्टः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकष्ट
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
दोषःfault, defect
दोषः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदोष
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
हिindeed, for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
भविताwill be / is going to be
भविता:
Karta
TypeVerb
Root√भू (भवति)
Formतृच् (कर्तरि भविष्यदर्थे), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
प्रभोO lord
प्रभो:
TypeNoun
Rootप्रभु
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन
Speaker
वायुदेव उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
Vāyudeva (Wind-god)P
Prabhu (addressed lord/master; addressee unspecified in this half-verse)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Silence in the face of a situation that demands a response—especially when correction, clarification, or rightful counsel is needed—can itself become a moral fault. One should speak responsibly to prevent wrongdoing or misunderstanding.
Vāyudeva addresses a superior as “prabho” and warns that failing to answer or speak in response will lead to a serious blameworthy outcome, emphasizing the ethical duty to respond when dharma requires it.