Shloka 8

शल्मलि–पवनसंवादः

The Dialogue of Śalmali and Pavana

Devanagari script

बशभ्राम तस्मिन्‌ विजने नानामृगसमाकुले । ततो द्रुमाणां महता पवनेन वने तदा

Transliteration

babhāma tasmin vijane nānā-mṛga-samākule | tato drumāṇāṃ mahatā pavanena vane tadā dadāha pāvakaḥ kruddho yugāntāgni-samaprabhaḥ |

Translation

ନାନାପ୍ରକାର ବନ୍ୟପଶୁରେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ସେଇ ନିର୍ଜନ ଅରଣ୍ୟରେ ସେ ବିହ୍ୱଳ ହୋଇ ଏଦିକ-ସେଦିକ ଭ୍ରମଣ କରିବାକୁ ଲାଗିଲା। ଏତିକିବେଳେ ପ୍ରଚଣ୍ଡ ପବନର ବେଗରେ ଗଛମାନେ ପରସ୍ପର ଘଷାଘଷି ହେଲେ ଏବଂ ବନରେ ଭୟଙ୍କର ଅଗ୍ନି ଲାଗିଗଲା। ଯୁଗାନ୍ତର ସଂହାରାଗ୍ନି ସମାନ ପ୍ରଜ୍ୱଲିତ ଓ କ୍ରୁଦ୍ଧ ଅଗ୍ନିଦେବ ଲତା, ଡାଳି ଓ ବୃକ୍ଷରେ ବ୍ୟାପ୍ତ ସେଇ ବନକୁ ଦଗ୍ଧ କରିବାକୁ ଲାଗିଲେ। ଏହି ଦୃଶ୍ୟ ଚେତାଏ—ଅନିୟନ୍ତ୍ରିତ ଶକ୍ତି ଏକଥର ଜ୍ୱଳିଲେ ସମଗ୍ର ପରିବେଶକୁ ଗ୍ରାସ କରେ; ଅସାବଧାନତା କାରଣର ଶୃଙ୍ଖଳା ହୋଇ ବିନାଶକୁ ନେଇଯାଏ।

Word by Word

• बभ्राम: wandered/roamed
• बभ्राम: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम्
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), 3, singular

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, locative, singular

• विजने: in a lonely/deserted (place)
• विजने: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजन
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

• नाना-मृग-समाकुले: crowded with various animals
• नाना-मृग-समाकुले: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना-मृग-समाकुल
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• द्रुमाणाम्: of the trees
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुम
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

• महता: by a great (one)
• महता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: masculine/neuter, instrumental, singular

• पवनेन: by the wind
• पवनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवन
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

• तदा: at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• ददाह: burned/burnt
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह्
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), 3, singular

• पावकः: fire (Agni)
• पावकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• क्रुद्धः: angered
• क्रुद्धः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• युगान्त-अग्नि-सम-प्रभः: having a radiance like the fire at the end of an age
• युगान्त-अग्नि-सम-प्रभः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युगान्त-अग्नि-सम-प्रभ
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• forest (vana)
• wild animals (mṛga)
• trees (druma)
• wind (pavana)
• fire/Agni (pāvaka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse illustrates how powerful outcomes can arise from seemingly ordinary conditions: isolation, confusion, and a strong wind lead to a devastating fire. Ethically, it cautions that negligence and uncontrolled impulses can trigger cascading harm, just as friction among trees under violent wind ignites a forest-wide blaze.

What is happening in the narrative?

A figure wanders in a deserted forest full of wild animals. Suddenly, a fierce wind causes trees to rub together, igniting a massive forest fire. The fire, personified as the enraged Pāvaka (Agni), spreads rapidly, burning creepers, branches, and trees like the cosmic fire of dissolution.