Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 19

Adhyāya 164: Gautama as Guest; Kaśyapa’s Satkāra and the Fourfold Arthagati; Journey to Virūpākṣa

प्रतिकर्तु न शक्ता ये बलस्थायापकारिणे । असूया जायते तीव्रा कारुण्याद्‌ विनिवर्तते,जो लोग अपनी बुराई करनेवाले बलवान मनुष्यसे बदला लेनेमें असमर्थ होते हैं, उनके हृदयमें तीव्र असूया (दोषदर्शनकी प्रवृत्ति) पैदा होती है, परंतु दयाका भाव जाग्रत्‌ होनेसे उसकी निवृत्ति हो जाती है

pratikartuṁ na śaktā ye balasthāyāpakāriṇe | asūyā jāyate tīvrā kāruṇyād vinivartate ||

ビーシュマは言った。「力ある悪人に報復できぬ者は、心に激しいアスーヤ(asūyā)—怨みを帯びた嫉みと欠点探し—を生じる。だが慈悲が目覚めれば、その苦さは鎮まり、退いてゆく。」

प्रतिकर्तुम्to retaliate / to do in return
प्रतिकर्तुम्:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootप्रति√कृ
Formतुमुन्-अन्त (infinitive)
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
शक्ताःable, capable
शक्ताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootशक्त (शक्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
येwho (those who)
ये:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
बलस्थायto/for the strong one (standing in strength)
बलस्थाय:
Sampradana
TypeAdjective
Rootबलस्थ
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular
अपकारिणेto the wrongdoer / one who harms
अपकारिणे:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootअपकारिन्
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular
असूयाenvy, fault-finding
असूया:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअसूया
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
जायतेarises, is born
जायते:
TypeVerb
Root√जन्
FormPresent, Ātmanepada, 3rd, Singular
तीव्राintense, sharp
तीव्रा:
TypeAdjective
Rootतीव्र
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
कारुण्यात्from compassion
कारुण्यात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootकारुण्य
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
विनिवर्ततेceases, turns back, is removed
विनिवर्तते:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-नि-√वृत्
FormPresent, Ātmanepada, 3rd, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma

Educational Q&A

When a person feels powerless to answer harm with retaliation, the mind often turns to asūyā—resentful fault-finding. Cultivating compassion (kāruṇya) dissolves that inner poison and restores ethical clarity.

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and conduct, Bhishma explains a common moral-psychological pattern: inability to punish a strong offender breeds bitterness, but compassion can neutralize it.