Shloka 2

शल्मलि–पवनसंवादः

The Dialogue of Śalmali and Pavana

Devanagari script

ईदृशेनैव तपसा गच्छेयं परमां गतिम्‌ । इति बुद्धया विनिश्चित्य गमनायोपचक्रमे

Transliteration

īdṛśenaiva tapasā gaccheyaṃ paramāṃ gatim | iti buddhyā viniścitya gamanāyopacakrame |

Translation

“ଏହି ପ୍ରକାର ତପସ୍ୟାରେ ମୁଁ ମଧ୍ୟ ପରମ ଗତି ପାଇବି”—ଏପରି ବୁଦ୍ଧିରେ ଦୃଢ଼ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ କରି, ପକ୍ଷୀ ଧରି ଜୀବିକା ଚାଲାଉଥିବା ସେ ଶିକାରୀ ସେଠାରୁ ମହାପ୍ରସ୍ଥାନର ପଥକୁ ଆଶ୍ରୟ କରି ଚାଲିଲା। ସେ ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରୟାସ ତ୍ୟାଗ କଲା; ବାୟୁକୁ ମାତ୍ର ଆହାର କରି ବଞ୍ଚିଲା; ଏବଂ ସ୍ୱର୍ଗଲୋଭରେ ଅନ୍ୟ ସବୁ ବସ୍ତୁ ପ୍ରତି ‘ମୋର’ ଭାବ ଛାଡ଼ିଦେଲା।

Word by Word

• ईदृशेन: by such (a kind of)
• ईदृशेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

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

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• गच्छेयम्: I would go/attain
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• गतिम्: state/goal/attainment
• गतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• इति: thus (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• बुद्ध्या: by (his) understanding
• बुद्ध्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• विनिश्चित्य: having ascertained/decided
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नि-√चि
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• गमनाय: for going/departure
• गमनाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गमन
• Form: Neuter, Dative, Singular

• उपचक्रमे: he set about/began
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√क्रम्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• a fowler/bird-catcher (bahēliyā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Firm resolve (niścaya) grounded in discernment (buddhi) can turn one toward the highest goal (paramā gati). The verse highlights ascetic discipline and the ethical inner act of relinquishing possessiveness (mamatā) as essential to spiritual progress.

What is happening in the narrative?

A fowler, inspired to seek the highest state through similar austerity, decides decisively to depart on a renunciant path. He gives up ordinary efforts and attachments, living on minimal sustenance (symbolically ‘air’) and orienting his life toward a transcendent aim.