Shloka 18

Devanagari script

अश्रिभ्यां सह नेच्छाम: सोम॑ पातुं महाव्रत । यदन्यद्‌ वक्ष्यसे विप्र तत्‌ करिष्यामि ते वच:,महान्‌ व्रतधारी विप्रवर! हमलोग अश्विनीकुमारोंक साथ सोमपान करना नहीं चाहते हैं। अतः इसको छोड़कर आप और जिस कामके लिये मुझे आज्ञा देंगे, उसे अवश्य मैं पूर्ण करूँगा

Transliteration

aśribhyāṃ saha necchāmaḥ somaṃ pātuṃ mahāvrata | yad anyad vakṣyase vipra tat kariṣyāmi te vacaḥ ||

Translation

ഇന്ദ്രൻ പറഞ്ഞു—“ഹേ മഹാവ്രതധാരിയായ ബ്രാഹ്മണാ! ഞങ്ങൾ അശ്വിനീദ്വയത്തോടൊപ്പം സോമപാനം ചെയ്യാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നില്ല. അത് ഒഴികെ നീ പറയുന്ന മറ്റേതു കാര്യവും ഞാൻ നിന്റെ വാക്കുപോലെ നിർവ്വഹിക്കും.”

Word by Word

• {'aśribhyām': 'with the Aśvins (the twin divine physicians)', 'saha': 'together with', 'na icchāmaḥ (necchāmaḥ)': 'we do not desire

• we do not wish', 'somaṃ': 'Soma (the sacred ritual drink

• also the Soma deity)', 'pātum': 'to drink', 'mahāvrata': 'O great-vowed one

• one observing a great vow', 'yad anyad': 'whatever else

• any other (thing)', 'vakṣyase': 'you will say

• you will instruct/command', 'vipra': 'O brahmin

• learned priest', 'tat': 'that', 'kariṣyāmi': 'I shall do

• I will perform', 'te': 'your', 'vacaḥ': 'word

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Aśvinīkumāras (Aśvins)
• Soma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined adherence to one’s chosen vow and ritual boundaries, coupled with readiness to obey rightful instruction in all other matters—showing how dharma can involve both principled refusal and dutiful compliance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma addresses a vow-observing brahmin, stating that he and his party do not wish to participate in Soma-drinking in the company of the Ashvins; however, he affirms that he will fulfill any other command the brahmin gives.