Shloka 15

Abhimanyu’s Assault on Bhīṣma’s Screen; Banner-Felling and Reinforcements (सौभद्र-भीष्म-समरः)

Devanagari script

अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्‌ ।४ स्वाध्याया भ्यसनं चैव वाड्मयं तप उच्यते

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca | anudvegakaraṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priyahitaṁ ca yat | svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva vāṅmayaṁ tapa ucyate ||

Translation

ଯେ ବାକ୍ୟ ଅନ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କୁ ଉଦ୍ବେଗିତ କରେ ନାହିଁ, ଯାହା ସତ୍ୟ, ପ୍ରିୟ ଓ ହିତକର; ଏବଂ ସ୍ୱାଧ୍ୟାୟର ନିରନ୍ତର ଅଭ୍ୟାସ—ଏହାକୁ ବାଣୀ-ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧୀୟ ତପ କୁହାଯାଏ।

Word by Word

• अनुद्वेगकरम्: causing no agitation
• अनुद्वेगकरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुद्वेगकर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वाक्यम्: speech; statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सत्यम्: true
• सत्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रियहितम्: pleasant and beneficial
• प्रियहितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रियहित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनम्: practice of self-study (recitation/study of scripture)
• स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्यायाभ्यसन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed; just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• वाङ्मयम्: consisting of speech; verbal
• वाङ्मयम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाङ्मय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• तपः: austerity; penance
• तपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• उच्यते: is said; is called
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Lat, Atmanepada, Karmani, Present, Third, Singular

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Verbal austerity consists in disciplined speech that is non-harsh and non-agitating, while remaining truthful, pleasing, and genuinely beneficial, together with the regular practice of svādhyāya (self-study/recitation of sacred learning).

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Bhīṣma Parva’s ethical instruction, Arjuna articulates a definition of vāṅmaya-tapas (austerity of speech), shifting focus from battlefield force to inner restraint and responsible communication.