Shloka 5

Tapas, Tīrtha, and Moral Rehabilitation (Śānti-parva 148)

Devanagari script

सो हं त्यक्ष्ये प्रियान्‌ प्राणान्‌ पुत्रान्‌ दारांस्तथैव च

Transliteration

so haṃ tyakṣye priyān prāṇān putrān dārāṃs tathaiva ca

Translation

അതുകൊണ്ട് ഞാൻ എന്റെ പ്രിയപ്പെട്ട പ്രാണനെയും ത്യജിക്കും; അതുപോലെ എന്റെ പുത്രന്മാരെയും ഭാര്യയെയും കൂടി ഉപേക്ഷിക്കും.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्यक्ष्ये: I shall abandon/renounce
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), First, Singular, Ātmanepada

• प्रियान्: dear/beloved
• प्रियान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• प्राणान्: life-breaths; life
• प्राणान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• दारान्: wife/wives; spouse(s)
• दारान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तथा: thus; likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एव: indeed; just; also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• sons (putrāḥ)
• wife/wives (dārāḥ)
• life-breath (prāṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches firm vairāgya (detachment): one should be prepared to relinquish even life and the closest familial bonds when dharma, truth, or a solemn vow demands unwavering commitment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma, speaking within the Śānti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, expresses a decisive resolve to give up what is most प्रिय (beloved)—life, sons, and spouse—highlighting the gravity of ethical duty over personal attachment.