Udyoga Parva Adhyaya 185 Shloka 20 - Mahabharata | Hindi | Vedapath

Vyasa

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Shloka 20

भीष्मस्वप्न-स्मृत्युपाख्यानम् | Bhīṣma’s Dream-Linked Recollection of the Paraśurāma Combat

Devanagari script

निराहारा कृशा रुक्षा जटिला मलपड़्किनी । षण्मासान्‌ वायुभक्षा च स्थाणुभूता तपोधना

Transliteration

nirāhārā kṛśā rukṣā jaṭilā malapaṅkinī | ṣaṇmāsān vāyubhakṣā ca sthāṇubhūtā tapodhanā ||

Translation

उसने अन्न-जल त्याग दिया; वह दुबली और रूखी हो गई। उसके केश जटा बन गए और शरीर मैल-कीचड़ से लथपथ हो गया। तपोधना वह कन्या छह मास तक केवल वायु का आश्रय लेकर, ठूँठ की भाँति अचल खड़ी रही।

Word by Word

निराहाराwithout food, fasting

कृशाemaciated, thin

रुक्षाdry, rough

जटिलाhaving matted hair (jata)

मलपङ्किनीcovered with filth and mud

षण्मासान्six months (for six months)

वायुभक्षाliving on air (air-eating)

चand

स्थाणुभूताbecome like a stump/pillar (motionless)

तपोधनाshe whose wealth is austerity (ascetic girl/woman)

Speaker

राम उवाच

Characters & Entities

Rāma (speaker)

the maiden (tapodhanā kanyā, implied)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights tapas as moral power: disciplined renunciation and steadfastness can embody commitment to one’s chosen dharma, showing how inner resolve is expressed through self-restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Rāma describes a maiden undertaking severe austerities—fasting completely, becoming physically worn, and standing unmoving for six months while subsisting only on air—emphasizing the intensity of her vow and determination.