Shloka 45

Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)

Devanagari script

अथवा पौरुषेणेयं न शक्‍्या रक्षितुं मया

Transliteration

athavā pauruṣeṇeyaṁ na śakyā rakṣituṁ mayā

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ନହେଲେ କେବଳ ପୁରୁଷାର୍ଥରେ ମୁଁ ଏହାକୁ ରକ୍ଷା କରିପାରିବି ନାହିଁ; କାରଣ ଐଶ୍ୱର୍ୟବାନ, ବହୁରୂପଧାରୀ ପାକଶାସନ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପ୍ରବଳ ବୋଲି ଶୁଣାଯାଏ। ତେଣୁ ଯୋଗବଳର ଆଶ୍ରୟ ନେଇ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରଙ୍କ ବିରୁଦ୍ଧରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ମୁଁ ଏହାକୁ ରକ୍ଷା କରିବି।

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा

• पौरुषेण: by manly effort
• पौरुषेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष (पुं)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• इयम्: this (she/this thing)
• इयम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• शक्या: possible / able to be
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (कृदन्त; शक् धातु)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• रक्षितुम्: to protect
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (tumun)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Indra (Pākaśāsana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts ordinary human exertion (pauruṣa/puruṣārtha) with yogic or ascetic potency (yogabala), implying that certain protections or vows cannot be upheld by mere worldly strength when confronted with divine-level power; one must rely on inner spiritual discipline and higher means.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma reflects on his inability to safeguard a certain matter through ordinary effort alone. Anticipating opposition even from Indra—renowned for power and many disguises—he resolves to take refuge in yogic strength to ensure protection.