Shloka 11

शल्मलि–पवनसंवादः

The Dialogue of Śalmali and Pavana

Devanagari script

ततः स देहमोक्षार्थ सम्प्रहषष्टेन चेतसा,अभ्यधावत वर्धन्तं पावकं लुब्धकस्तदा । बहेलिया अपने शरीरका परित्याग करनेके लिये मनमें हर्ष और उल्लास भरकर उस बढ़ती हुई आगकी ओर दौड़ पड़ा

Transliteration

tataḥ sa dehamokṣārthaṃ samprahṛṣṭena cetasā, abhyadhāvat vardhantaṃ pāvakaṃ lubdhakas tadā |

Translation

ಆಮೇಲೆ ಆ ಲುಬ್ಧಕನು ದೇಹತ್ಯಾಗದ ಉದ್ದೇಶದಿಂದ, ಹರ್ಷೋನ್ಮಾದದಿಂದ ತುಂಬಿದ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನೊಂದಿಗೆ, ವೃದ್ಧಿಯಾಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಆ ಅಗ್ನಿಯತ್ತ ಓಡಿದನು. ಈ ದೃಶ್ಯವು ಕಠೋರ ನಿರ್ಧಾರವನ್ನು ತೋರಿಸುತ್ತದೆ—ಸಂಯಮ ಅಥವಾ ಪಶ್ಚಾತ್ತಾಪದ ಕಡೆಗೆ ಮರಳದೆ, ಅವನು ಆತ್ಮವಿನಾಶದತ್ತಲೇ ಸಾಗುತ್ತಾನೆ।

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

सःhe

देहbody

मोक्षार्थम्for the sake of release (abandonment)

सम्प्रहृष्टेनwith (a) delighted

चेतसाmind, consciousness

अभ्यधावतran towards

वर्धन्तम्growing, increasing

पावकम्fire

लुब्धकःthe hunter

तदाat that time

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

lubdhaka (hunter)

pāvaka (fire)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how a mind seized by intense emotion can mistake self-destruction for “release.” In the ethical frame of Śānti Parva, it invites reflection on right resolve (dharma-guided intention) versus impulsive or despair-driven action, and on the need for discernment before irreversible deeds.

What is happening in the narrative?

A hunter, seeking to abandon his body, becomes exhilarated and rushes toward a fire that is spreading. The action is presented as a decisive movement toward bodily death, setting up a moral and psychological moment within Bhīṣma’s discourse.