Shloka 101

Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154

Devanagari script

क्ररश्चायं वनोद्देशो भयमद्य भविष्यति । त्यज्यतां काष्ठभूतो<यं मृष्यतां जाम्बुकं वच:

Transliteration

krūraś cāyaṁ vanoddeśo bhayam adya bhaviṣyati | tyajyatāṁ kāṣṭhabhūto 'yaṁ mṛṣyatāṁ jāmbukaṁ vacaḥ ||

Translation

ବନର ଏହି ଅଂଶ କ୍ରୂର; ଆଜି ଏଠାରେ ଭୟ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ଉଦ୍ଭବିବ। ଏହି ବାଳକଟି କାଠ ପରି ନିଷ୍ପ୍ରାଣ ହୋଇଯାଇଛି—ଏହାକୁ ଛାଡ଼; ଜାମ୍ବୁକର କଥାରେ ଭୁଲିବା ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• क्रूरः: cruel, fierce
• क्रूरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

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

• वन-उद्देशः: this region/tract of forest
• वन-उद्देशः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन + उद्देश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भयम्: fear, danger
• भयम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अद्य: today, now
• अद्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य

• भविष्यति: will be, will occur
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• त्यज्यताम्: let (him/it) be abandoned
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज्
• Form: Imperative, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada, impersonal/passive sense: 'let it be abandoned'

• काष्ठ-भूतः: become like wood (insensate)
• काष्ठ-भूतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काष्ठ + भूत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• मृष्यताम्: let it be endured/accepted
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृष्
• Form: Imperative, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada, impersonal: 'let it be endured/accepted'

• जाम्बुकम्: jackal (speech/utterance of a jackal)
• जाम्बुकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाम्बुक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वचः: speech, words
• वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

गृध्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• गृध्र (vulture)
• जाम्बुक (jackal)
• वनोद्‍देश (forest tract)
• बालक (child)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In a perilous situation, one should not be misled by persuasive but self-serving counsel; discernment (viveka) and awareness of immediate danger are essential, even when emotions pull toward attachment.

What is happening in the narrative?

A vulture warns that the forest region is dangerous and that fear is imminent; seeing the child as already lifeless, it urges others to abandon the child and not to follow the jackal’s tempting words.