Shloka 13

Prajñā as Pratiṣṭhā — Indra–Kāśyapa Saṃvāda (Śānti-parva 12.173)

Devanagari script

ततो<विदूरे जगृहुर्गौतम॑ राक्षसास्तदा

Transliteration

tato ’vidūre jagṛhur gautamaṃ rākṣasās tadā

Translation

त्यानंतर, फार दूर नाही अशा ठिकाणी, त्या वेळी राक्षसांनी गौतमाला पकडले.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable)

• अविदूरे: not far away, nearby
• अविदूरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविदूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम् (locative singular; used adverbially: 'not far away')

• जगृहुः: they seized/took
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपदम्), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्

• गौतमम्: Gautama (as object)
• गौतमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• राक्षसाः: the Rakshasas/demons
• राक्षसाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्

• तदा: at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Gautama
• Rākṣasas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a common Mahābhārata motif: dharma is not merely preached but tested. Sudden danger to a righteous person underscores the need for steadiness, discernment, and the protection of the virtuous amid adharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates that rākṣasas, nearby, capture the sage Gautama. It marks the onset of a conflict or ordeal involving hostile beings and a revered ascetic figure.