Shloka 2

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 158 — Aṅgāraparṇa-saṃvāda and Gaṅgā-tīrtha Saṃghaṭṭa

Encounter at the Gaṅgā ford

Devanagari script

अवश्यं निधन सर्वर्गन्तव्यमिह मानवै: । अवश्यम्भाविन्यर्थे वै संतापो नेह विद्यते,एक-न-एक दिन संसारमें सभी मनुष्योंको अवश्य मरना पड़ेगा; अतः जो बात अवश्य होनेवाली है, उसके लिये यहाँ शोक करनेकी आवश्यकता नहीं है

Transliteration

avaśyaṃ nidhanaṃ sarvair gantavyam iha mānavaiḥ | avaśyambhāviny arthe vai santāpo neha vidyate ||

Translation

All human beings here must inevitably meet with death. Therefore, for what is certain to occur, there is no need for grief or torment of mind in this world.

Word by Word

अवश्यम्certainly, inevitably

निधनम्death, destruction

सर्वैःby all (people)

गन्तव्यम्must be gone to / must be met (i.e., must be undergone)

इहhere, in this world

मानवैःby humans

अवश्यम्certainly, inevitably

भाविनिin what is to happen / in the inevitable

अर्थेin the matter, with regard to the matter

वैindeed, surely

संतापःgrief, anguish

नnot

इहhere (in this case/world)

विद्यतेexists, is found

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

ब

ब्राह्मण (a Brahmin speaker)

म

मानव (human beings)

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Since death is unavoidable for all humans, grieving over what must certainly happen is portrayed as unnecessary; the verse counsels steadiness and acceptance of inevitability.

What is happening in the narrative?

A Brahmin speaker offers moral-philosophical instruction, using the universality of death to calm sorrow and redirect the listener toward composure and right understanding.