Shloka 43

Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā

Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative

Devanagari script

नविश्वसेदविश्वस्ते विश्वस्ते नातिविश्वसेत्‌ विश्वासाद्‌ भयमभ्येति नापरीक्ष्य च विश्वसेद्‌

Transliteration

na viśvased aviśvaste viśvaste nātiviśvaset | viśvāsād bhayam abhyeti nāparīkṣya ca viśvaset ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଅବିଶ୍ୱସନୀୟକୁ ବିଶ୍ୱାସ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ; ଏବଂ ବିଶ୍ୱସନୀୟକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅତିରିକ୍ତ ବିଶ୍ୱାସ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ। ଅତି-ବିଶ୍ୱାସରୁ ଭୟ ଓ ବିପଦ ଜନ୍ମେ; ତେଣୁ ପରୀକ୍ଷା ନ କରି କାହାକୁ ବିଶ୍ୱାସ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ।

Word by Word

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

• विश्वसेत्: should trust
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विश्वस्
• Form: Vidhi-linga, optative (injunctive sense: should), 3rd, singular, Parasmaipada

• अविश्वस्ते: in/with one who is not trusted; in an untrusted person
• अविश्वस्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविश्वस्त
• Form: masculine/neuter (contextually masculine), locative, singular

• विश्वस्ते: in/with one who is trusted; in a trusted person
• विश्वस्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्वस्त
• Form: masculine/neuter (contextually masculine), locative, singular

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

• अति: excessively; too much
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति

• विश्वसेत्: should trust
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विश्वस्
• Form: Vidhi-linga, optative (injunctive sense: should), 3rd, singular, Parasmaipada

• विश्वासात्: from trust; due to trust
• विश्वासात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वास
• Form: masculine, ablative, singular

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• अभ्येति: approaches; comes upon
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इ (अभि-√इ)
• Form: Lat, present, 3rd, singular, Parasmaipada

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

• अपरीक्ष्य: without examining; without testing
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपरीक्ष्य (अ- + परीक्ष्य)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), active sense, having not examined

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

• विश्वसेत्: should trust
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विश्वस्
• Form: Vidhi-linga, optative (injunctive sense: should), 3rd, singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Exercise discernment in relationships: do not trust the untrustworthy, and do not trust even the trustworthy without limits; excessive confidence invites danger, so trust should follow examination.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and statecraft; here he gives a concise maxim on prudent conduct—how a ruler or any person should regulate trust to avoid harm.