Shloka 44

आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः

Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca

Devanagari script

अयमत्यन्तशत्रुमें वैषम्यं परमं गत: । मूढो ग्राहयितुं स्वार्थ सड्भत्या यदि शक्‍्यते

Transliteration

ayam atyantaśatru me vaiṣamyaṃ paramaṃ gataḥ | mūḍho grāhayituṃ svārthaṃ saṅgatyā yadi śakyate ||

Translation

ଏ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ମୋର ଘୋର ଶତ୍ରୁ, ଏବଂ ଏବେ ପରମ ସଙ୍କଟରେ ପଡ଼ିଛି। ତଥାପି ଯଦି ସମ୍ଭବ ହୁଏ, ସନ୍ଧି ଦ୍ୱାରା ଏହି ମୂର୍ଖକୁ ମୋର ସ୍ୱାର୍ଥସିଦ୍ଧିର ପଥରେ ରାଜି କରିବି।

Word by Word

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अत्यन्त-शत्रुः: an extreme/utter enemy
• अत्यन्त-शत्रुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्यन्त + शत्रु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मे: of me / my
• मे: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• वैषम्यम्: distress; adversity; difficulty
• वैषम्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैषम्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• परमम्: great; highest
• परमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• गतः: gone; fallen into
• गतः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (गत)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• मूढः: foolish; deluded
• मूढः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूढ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ग्राहयितुम्: to make (him) accept; to cause to take
• ग्राहयितुम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (णिच्) → ग्राहय
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive), Causative (णिच्)

• स्वार्थम्: one's own interest; self-advantage
• स्वार्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सद्भाव्या: by goodwill; by friendly association
• सद्भाव्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद्भाव (instrumental: सद्भावेन; here as सद्भाव्या = सद्भावेन, Vedic/epic variant)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

• शक्यते: is possible; can be done
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक्
• Form: Present, लट्, Third, Singular, Passive (कर्मणि)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• an unnamed enemy (implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a hard ethical tension in practical life: even toward an enemy, one may consider strategic association when circumstances create leverage. It invites reflection on when pragmatic self-interest is permissible and how it should be restrained by dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a situation where a sworn enemy has fallen into severe trouble. Seeing an opportunity, he considers persuading the enemy—through companionship or alliance—to agree to something that advances Bhishma’s own objective.