Shloka 46

Śrī–Indra–Bali Saṃvāda: The Departure and Fourfold Placement of Lakṣmī

Devanagari script

अर्थास्तथात्यन्तसुखावहांश्न लिप्सन्त एते बहवो विशुष्का: । महत्तरं दुःखमनुप्रपन्ना हित्वा55मिषं मृत्युवशं प्रयान्ति,बहुत-से शुष्क हृदयवाले लोग ऐसे विषयोंकी लिप्सा रखते हैं, जो अत्यन्त सुखदायक हों; किंतु इस लिप्सामें उन्हें भारी-से-भारी दुःखोंका ही सामना करना पड़ता है और अन्तमें वे भोगोंको छोड़कर मृत्युके ग्रास बन जाते हैं

Transliteration

arthās tathātyantasukhāvahān lipsanta ete bahavo viśuṣkāḥ | mahattaraṁ duḥkham anuprapannā hitvāmiṣaṁ mṛtyuvaśaṁ prayānti ||

Translation

ビ―シュマは言った。「多くの者は、心が乾き（分別を欠き）、至上の幸福を約束するかに見える享楽の対象を渇望する。だがその渇望を追えば追うほど、より大きな苦しみに沈み、ついには—その快楽を捨て去って—無力のまま死の支配の下へと赴くのだ。」

Word by Word

अर्थाःobjects/wealth (desired things)

तथाthus/so; likewise

अत्यन्त-सुख-आवहान्bringing extremely great pleasure

लिप्सन्तेdesire/seek to obtain

एतेthese

बहवःmany

विशुष्काःwithered/dried up (hard-hearted)

महत्तरम्greater/very great

दुःखम्sorrow/suffering

अनुप्रपन्नाःhaving fallen into/encountering

हित्वाhaving abandoned

आमिषम्bait; worldly enjoyment

मृत्यु-वशम्into the power/control of death

प्रयान्तिgo; pass away

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Death (Mṛtyu)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Craving for seemingly supreme pleasures becomes a trap: it multiplies suffering and ends inevitably in death, showing the need for restraint and discernment rather than chasing sensual lures.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on right conduct and inner peace, Bhīṣma warns the listener that many people pursue enticing enjoyments, but their pursuit leads to escalating misery and finally to death, leaving those pleasures behind.