Shloka 9

Adhyāya 159 — Dāna–Dakṣiṇā, Āpaddharma Measures, and Prāyaścitta Classifications

Devanagari script

उपस्थोदरयोवेंगो मृत्युवेगश्च॒ दारुण: । ईष्यविगश्न बलवान्‌ मिथ्यावेगश्च दुर्जय:

Transliteration

upasthodarayoḥ vegau mṛtyuvegaś ca dāruṇaḥ | īrṣyā-vegaś ca balavān mithyā-vegaś ca durjayaḥ ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଜନନେନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟ ଓ ଉଦର (ଆହାରଲୋଭ) ର ବେଗ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପ୍ରବଳ; ମୃତ୍ୟୁଦିଗକୁ ଧାଉଥିବା ବେଗ ଭୟଙ୍କର। ଈର୍ଷ୍ୟାର ବେଗ ବଳବାନ, ଏବଂ ମିଥ୍ୟାର ବେଗ ଜୟ କରିବା ଦୁର୍ଜୟ।

Word by Word

• उपस्थ: the genitals/sexual organ
• उपस्थ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपस्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उदर: the belly
• उदर: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• योः: of which two (of these two)
• योः: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Dual

• वेगः: impulse/urge
• वेगः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मृत्यु-वेगः: the death-like impulse (urge leading to death)
• मृत्यु-वेगः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु-वेग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• दारुणः: terrible/cruel
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ईर्ष्या-वेगः: the impulse of jealousy
• ईर्ष्या-वेगः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईर्ष्या-वेग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• बलवान्: powerful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मिथ्या-वेगः: the impulse toward falsehood (lying)
• मिथ्या-वेगः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिथ्या-वेग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• दुर्जयः: hard to conquer/overcome
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्जय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• death

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma highlights several overpowering inner drives—lust, appetite, jealousy, and the tendency to lie—warning that ethical life (dharma) requires vigilant self-mastery over these impulses, since they easily lead to personal and social ruin.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising on righteous conduct by listing formidable human urges that obstruct virtue and clear judgment, framing them as forces that must be restrained for moral stability.