Shloka 109

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

Devanagari script

शोकदैन्यसमाविष्टा रुदन्तस्तस्थिरे तदा । स्वकार्यकुशलाभ्यां ते सम्भ्राम्यन्ते ह नैपुणात्‌

Transliteration

śoka-dainya-samāviṣṭā rudantas tasthire tadā | sva-kārya-kuśalābhyāṃ te sambhrāmyante ha naipuṇāt ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଶୋକ ଓ ଦୈନ୍ୟରେ ଆବିଷ୍ଟ ହୋଇ ସେମାନେ ସେତେବେଳେ କାନ୍ଦୁଥିବା ଅବସ୍ଥାରେ ସେଠାରେ ଠିଆ ହୋଇ ରହିଗଲେ। ନିଜ-ନିଜ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ସାଧନରେ କୁଶଳ ସେ ଦୁଇଜଣଙ୍କ ନୈପୁଣ୍ୟ ଓ ଚତୁରତାରେ ସେମାନେ ଭ୍ରମିତ ହେଲେ।

Word by Word

• शोकदैन्यसमाविष्टाः: overcome/possessed by grief and wretchedness
• शोकदैन्यसमाविष्टाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक-दैन्य-समाविष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• रुदन्तः: weeping
• रुदन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तस्थिरे: stood/remained
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• स्वकार्यकुशलाभ्याम्: by the two who were skilled in their own task
• स्वकार्यकुशलाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व-कार्य-कुशल
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Dual

• ते: they/those (persons)
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सम्भ्राम्यन्ते: are made to whirl about / are bewildered
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (सम्-)
• Form: Present (Laṭ), 3rd, Plural, Ātmanepada

• ह: indeed (emphatic particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह

• नैपुणात्: from/owing to skill, cleverness
• नैपुणात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैपुण
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Grief and dejection can paralyze even capable people; emotional overwhelm makes one vulnerable to being misled by others’ cleverness. Ethical steadiness and clarity of mind are implied prerequisites for right action (dharma).

What is happening in the narrative?

A group, overcome by sorrow, stands weeping and immobilized. Despite their practical competence, they are driven into confusion by another party’s superior craftiness, indicating how psychological distress can be exploited.