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

Bhishma berkata: Kemudian si pemburu, dengan hati dipenuhi kegirangan dan keterujaan, berlari menuju api yang kian membesar, berniat melepaskan tubuhnya. Adegan ini menonjolkan tekad yang mengerikan: didorong oleh keputusan batin untuk menamatkan kewujudan berjasad, dia memilih kebinasaan diri daripada berpaling kepada pengekangan atau penyesalan.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: avyaya

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• देह: body
• देह: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular (in compound relation)

• मोक्षार्थम्: for the sake of release (abandonment)
• मोक्षार्थम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष + अर्थ
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular (purpose)

• सम्प्रहृष्टेन: with (a) delighted
• सम्प्रहृष्टेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-प्र-हृष् (क्त)
• Form: neuter, instrumental, singular

• चेतसा: mind, consciousness
• चेतसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस्
• Form: neuter, instrumental, singular

• अभ्यधावत: ran towards
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-धाव्
• Form: imperfect (laṅ), parasmaipada, 3rd person, singular

• वर्धन्तम्: growing, increasing
• वर्धन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ध् (शतृ)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• पावकम्: fire
• पावकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• लुब्धकः: the hunter
• लुब्धकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लुब्धक
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• तदा: at that time
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (तद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: avyaya

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• lubdhaka (hunter)
• pāvaka (fire)

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.