Shloka 28

Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154

Devanagari script

क्षीणस्यार्थाभियुक्तस्य श्मशानाभिमुखस्य च । बान्धवा यत्र तिष्ठन्ति तत्रान्यो नाधितिषछ्तति

Transliteration

kṣīṇasyārthābhiyuktasya śmaśānābhimukhasya ca | bāndhavā yatra tiṣṭhanti tatrānyo nādhitiṣṭhati ||

Translation

ビーシュマは言った。「身が衰え、財の訴えに絡め取られ、そして火葬場へと向かうとき（すなわち死の瀬戸際にあるとき）、その傍らに立つのは自らの親族だけである。そのような時、他人は真に寄り添ってはくれぬ。」

Word by Word

• क्षीणस्य: of one who is emaciated/weak
• क्षीणस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीण (√क्षि)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• अर्थाभियुक्तस्य: of one accused/charged regarding wealth (financially prosecuted)
• अर्थाभियुक्तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थाभियुक्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• श्मशानाभिमुखस्य: of one facing/going toward the cremation-ground
• श्मशानाभिमुखस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्मशानाभिमुख
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• बान्धवाः: kinsmen/relatives
• बान्धवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बान्धव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र

• तिष्ठन्ति: stand/remain
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था
• Form: Present, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• अन्यः: another (person)
• अन्यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अधितिष्ठति: stands by/supports (stays with)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-√स्था
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• śmaśāna (cremation ground)
• bāndhava (kinsmen/relatives)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Support from the wider world is often contingent on advantage and circumstance; in severe crisis—illness, legal/financial accusation, and death—only close kin typically remain. The verse invites sober discernment about reliance, loyalty, and the duties of family.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and practical wisdom. Here he states a worldly observation: when someone is physically broken, embroiled in a monetary charge, or approaching death, companions fall away and only relatives tend to stand with him.