Shloka 19

Tapas as the Root of Attainment (तपः—साधनमूलप्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

तथेमे गर्जिता नागा: स्वयूथकुलशोभिता: । घर्मा्तास्वां समासाद्य सुखं विन्दन्ति शाल्मले,'शाल्मले! अपने यूथकुलसे सुशोभित ये गर्जना करते हुए गजराज धूपसे पीड़ित हो तुम्हारे पास आकर सुख पाते हैं

Transliteration

tatheme garjitā nāgāḥ svayūthakulaśobhitāḥ | gharmārtāstvāṃ samāsādya sukhaṃ vindanti śālmale ||

Translation

Bhishma berkata: “Demikian juga gajah-gajah perkasa ini, melengking kuat, dan tampak mulia oleh seri kawanan serta keturunan mereka—apabila diseksa bahang, mereka datang kepadamu, wahai Śālmali, lalu memperoleh ketenteraman.”

Word by Word

तथाthus, in that manner

इमेthese

गर्जिताःroaring

नागाःelephants

स्वown

यूथherd, troop

कुलfamily, lineage

शोभिताःadorned, beautified

घर्मby heat, by sunshine

आर्ताःdistressed, afflicted

त्वाम्you

समासाद्यhaving approached, reaching

सुखम्comfort, ease, happiness

विन्दन्तिthey find, obtain

शाल्मलेO Śālmali (name/address)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Nāgāḥ (elephants)

Śālmali (tree)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dharmic ideal of being a refuge: just as creatures distressed by heat seek shelter and comfort, a righteous protector (implicitly a king or guardian) should provide relief and safety to those who come seeking help.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma uses a vivid natural image: herd-leading elephants, suffering from the sun’s heat, approach the Śālmali tree and find comfort there. The image supports a broader ethical point about offering shelter and protection.