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Shloka 226

अहिंसा-प्रधान धर्मविचारः

Ahiṃsā as the Superior Dharma: Practical and Scriptural Reasoning

तस्थौ दार्विव निश्चेष्टा प्रजानां हितकाम्यया । तत्पश्चात्‌ वह महाभागा ब्रह्मकन्या गंगाजीके किनारे और केवल मेरुपर्वतपर गयी। वहाँ प्रजावर्गके हितकी इच्छासे वह काठकी भाँति निश्चेष्ट खड़ी रही

tasthau dārur iva niśceṣṭā prajānāṁ hitakāmyayā | tatpaścāt sā mahābhāgā brahmakanyā gaṅgā jīke kināre aura kevala meruparvatapara gayī | tatra prajāvarge hitakī icchāse sā kāṣṭhavat niśceṣṭā khaḍī rahī |

万生の安寧を願い、彼女は木片のように身じろぎもせず立ち尽くした。その後、幸いに満ちたその者——ブラフマーより生まれた乙女、ガンガー——はガンガー河の岸へ赴き、さらにただ独り須弥山(メール)へ向かった。そこでもまた、衆生の益を念じて、木のように静止し、動かずに立ち続けた。

तस्थौstood
तस्थौ:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootस्था (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
दार्विlike/in wood (i.e., as a log/wooden piece)
दार्वि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootदारु (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
इवlike, as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
निश्चेष्टाmotionless
निश्चेष्टा:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनिश्चेष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
प्रजानाम्of the creatures/subjects
प्रजानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
हितकाम्ययाwith the desire for (their) welfare
हितकाम्यया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootहितकाम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular

पितामह उवाच

पितामह (Bhīṣma, as speaker)
गङ्गा (Gaṅgā)
ब्रह्मकन्या (Brahmā-born maiden epithet)
गङ्गा-तट (bank of the Gaṅgā)
मेरुपर्वत (Mount Meru)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights lokahita—acting from a desire for the welfare of all beings—expressed through unwavering self-control. The image of standing motionless like wood suggests disciplined restraint and firm resolve undertaken not for personal gain but for the good of the world.

Bhīṣma describes Gaṅgā, the divine maiden, going to sacred/cosmic locations (the Gaṅgā’s bank and Mount Meru) and remaining there motionless, as if in austerity or concentrated resolve, motivated by concern for the welfare of living beings.