Shloka 52

Kṣemadarśa–Kālakavṛkṣīya Saṃvāda: Counsel on Impermanence, Non-attachment, and Composure in Dispossession

Devanagari script

सदृशं पण्डितस्यै तदीषादन्तेन दन्तिना । यदेको रमते<रण्येष्वारण्ये नैव तुष्यति

Transliteration

sadṛśaṃ paṇḍitasya etad īṣādantena dantinā | yad eko ramate 'raṇyeṣv āraṇye naiva tuṣyati ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ପଣ୍ଡିତ ପୁରୁଷ ପାଇଁ ଯଥାର୍ଥ ଯୋଗ୍ୟତା ଏହି: ସେ ଅରଣ୍ୟରେ ଏକାକୀ ରମଣ କରୁ, ଈଷା (ହଳ) ପରି ବଡ଼ ଦାନ୍ତ ଥିବା ଜଙ୍ଗଲୀ ହାତୀ ସହିତ ମଧ୍ୟ ନିର୍ଭୟ ଭାବେ ବିଚରଣ କରୁ, ଏବଂ ଅରଣ୍ୟ ଯାହା ଦେଉଛି—ପତ୍ର, ପୁଷ୍ପ, ଫଳ, ମୂଳ—ତାହାରେ ସନ୍ତୁଷ୍ଟ ରହୁ; ଅରଣ୍ୟଜୀବନରୁ ଅଧିକ କିଛି ଆକାଂକ୍ଷା ନ କରୁ।

Word by Word

• सदृशम्: befitting, suitable
• सदृशम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• पण्डितस्य: of a learned man
• पण्डितस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डित
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• ईषा-दन्तेन: with (one) having tusks like a pole/beam
• ईषा-दन्तेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईषादन्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• दन्तिना: with a tusked one (elephant)
• दन्तिना: Karana
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: दन्तिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

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

• एकः: alone
• एकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रमते: delights, takes pleasure
• रमते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• अरण्येषु: in forests
• अरण्येषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरण्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• आरण्ये: in the wilderness/forest-life
• आरण्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आरण्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

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

• तुष्यति: is satisfied
• तुष्यति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• forest (araṇya)
• wild tusked elephant (dantin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Wisdom is shown by independence from comforts and social dependence: the learned person can live alone in the forest, accept simple natural food, and remain free from craving—content with minimal needs and steady in self-control.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs on dharma and the ideals of restraint and renunciation. Here he describes the conduct suitable for a true paṇḍita: solitary forest-dwelling, unafraid even among wild creatures, and satisfied with what nature offers.