Shloka 20

भीष्मस्वप्न-स्मृत्युपाख्यानम् | Bhīṣma’s Dream-Linked Recollection of the Paraśurāma Combat

Devanagari script

निराहारा कृशा रुक्षा जटिला मलपड़्किनी । षण्मासान्‌ वायुभक्षा च स्थाणुभूता तपोधना,उसने भोजन छोड़ दिया, वह दुबली तथा रुक्ष हो गयी। सिरपर केशोंकी जटा बन गयी। शरीरमें मैल और कीचड़ जम गयी। वह तपोधना कन्या छ: महीनोंतक केवल वायु पीकर दढूँठे काठकी भाँति निश्चलभावसे खड़ी रही

Transliteration

nirāhārā kṛśā rukṣā jaṭilā malapaṅkinī | ṣaṇmāsān vāyubhakṣā ca sthāṇubhūtā tapodhanā ||

Translation

तिने अन्न-जलाचा त्याग केला; ती कृश व रुक्ष झाली. तिचे केस जटा झाले आणि शरीर मळ व चिखलाने माखले. तपोधना ती कन्या सहा महिने केवळ वायूवर जगत, ठोंब्यासारखी अचल उभी राहिली.

Word by Word

निराहाराwithout food, fasting

कृशाemaciated, thin

रुक्षाdry, rough

जटिलाhaving matted hair (jata)

मलपङ्किनीcovered with filth and mud

षण्मासान्six months (for six months)

वायुभक्षाliving on air (air-eating)

चand

स्थाणुभूताbecome like a stump/pillar (motionless)

तपोधनाshe whose wealth is austerity (ascetic girl/woman)

Speaker

राम उवाच

Characters & Entities

Rāma (speaker)

the maiden (tapodhanā kanyā, implied)

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 tapas as moral power: disciplined renunciation and steadfastness can embody commitment to one’s chosen dharma, showing how inner resolve is expressed through self-restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Rāma describes a maiden undertaking severe austerities—fasting completely, becoming physically worn, and standing unmoving for six months while subsisting only on air—emphasizing the intensity of her vow and determination.