Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

(पर्णाहार: कदाचिच्च नियमव्रतवानपि । कदाचिदुदकेनापि वर्तयन्ननुयन्त्रित: ।।

Transliteration

Bhīṣma uvāca — parṇāhāraḥ kadācic ca niyamavratavān api | kadācid udakena api vartayann anuyantritaḥ || śmaśāne tasya cāvāso gomāyoḥ sammato 'bhavat | janmabhūmy-anurodhāc ca nānyāvāsam arocayat ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ବ୍ରତ ଓ ନିୟମରେ ନିଷ୍ଠ ଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେ କେବେ ପତ୍ର ଚବାଇ ଜୀବନ ଧାରଣ କରୁଥିଲା, କେବେ କେବଳ ଜଳ ପିଇ ରହୁଥିଲା; ତାହାର ଜୀବନ ସଂଯମରେ ବନ୍ଧା ଥିଲା। ସେ ଶିଆଳର ନିବାସ ଶ୍ମଶାନଭୂମିରେ ହିଁ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ ହେଲା; ଜନ୍ମଭୂମିର ଅନୁରାଗରୁ ସେଇ ସ୍ଥାନ ତାହାକୁ ପ୍ରିୟ, ଅନ୍ୟ କେଉଁଠି ରହିବାକୁ ତାହାର ରୁଚି ନଥିଲା।

Word by Word

• पर्णाहारः: one who subsists on leaves
• पर्णाहारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्णाहार
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कदाचित्: sometimes
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित्

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

• नियमव्रतवान्: possessing vows and observances
• नियमव्रतवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियमव्रतवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• कदाचित्: sometimes
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित्

• उदकेन: with water / by means of water
• उदकेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• वर्तयन्: subsisting; maintaining (himself)
• वर्तयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अनुयन्त्रितः: restrained; controlled
• अनुयन्त्रितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-यन्त्रित
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्मशाने: in the cremation-ground
• श्मशाने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मशान
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• तस्य: of him
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

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

• आवासः: dwelling; residence
• आवासः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गोमायोः: of the two jackals
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमायु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• सम्मतः: approved; acceptable; agreeable
• सम्मतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-मत
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभवत्: was/became
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• जन्मभूमि: birthplace
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मभूमि
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• अनुरोधात्: due to attachment/consideration (for it)
• अनुरोधात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुरोध
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

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

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

• अन्य: other
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आवासम्: dwelling; residence
• आवासम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवास
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अरोचयत्: did not like; did not choose
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुच्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada, true

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• śmaśāna (cremation-ground)
• gomāya (cow-dung)
• udaka (water)
• parṇa (leaves)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage highlights tapas through regulated living: limiting food to leaves or even only water, and choosing an austere dwelling. The ethical point is mastery over desire and comfort—discipline (niyama) and vow (vrata) shaping a life of restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes an ascetic figure whose habits are extremely restrained: he alternates between eating leaves and drinking only water, and he lives in a cremation-ground, accepting harsh surroundings. He remains there out of attachment to his birthplace and shows no interest in relocating.