Shloka 48

Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances

Devanagari script

मन्त्रीपदपर आते समय सियारने यह शर्त करा ली थी कि राजन! यदि आप मुझसे मैत्री चाहते हैं तो किसीके बहकावेमें आकर मेरा विनाश न कर डालियेगा ।।

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | kṣudhitasya mṛgendrasya bhoktum abhyutthitasya ca | bhojanāyopahartavyaṃ tan māṃsaṃ nopadṛśyate ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ହେ ରାଜନ୍! ମୃଗେନ୍ଦ୍ର ସିଂହ ଭୁଖରେ ପୀଡ଼ିତ ହୋଇ ଭୋଜନ କରିବାକୁ ଉଠିଲା; କିନ୍ତୁ ତାହା ପାଇଁ ଯେ ମାଂସ ପରିବେଶନ ହେବା ଉଚିତ ଥିଲା, ସେହି ମାଂସ କେଉଁଠି ମଧ୍ୟ ଦେଖାଗଲା ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• क्षुधितस्य: of the hungry
• क्षुधितस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुधित (क्षुध् + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• मृगेन्द्रस्य: of the lion (lord of beasts)
• मृगेन्द्रस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• भोक्तुम्: to eat
• भोक्तुम्: Prayojana
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज्
• Form: Infinitive (Tumun), Parasmaipada/Atmanepada-neutral

• अभ्युत्थितस्य: of (him) who had risen/started up
• अभ्युत्थितस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभ्युत्थित (अभि + उत् + स्था + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

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

• भोजनाय: for eating/for food
• भोजनाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन
• Form: Neuter, Dative, Singular

• उपहर्तव्यम्: to be brought/served
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-हृ (हृ + तव्य)
• Form: Gerundive (Tavya), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• मांसम्: meat
• मांसम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

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

• उपदृश्यते: is seen/appears
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√दृश्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Atmanepada (passive-like usage), 3rd, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• King (addressed as rājan)
• Lion (mṛgendra)
• Meat/food (māṃsa, bhojana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must not allow rightful support and trust to be undermined; when what is due is withheld (like food from a hungry lion), the resulting frustration can trigger disorder and harm. The verse cautions against betrayal, negligence, and being swayed by bad counsel.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma uses a vivid metaphor: a hungry lion rises to eat, but the meat meant to be served is not found. The image functions as a moral illustration within Bhishma’s instruction on governance and ethical conduct.