Shloka 4

Virūpākṣa’s Dāna and Gautama’s Burden — the approach of Rājadharma

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच स्पृहा स्याद्‌ गर्हिता चैव विधित्सा चैव कर्मणाम्‌ | आक्रोष्टा क्रुश्यते चैव वज्चितो बुद्धयते स च

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca spṛhā syād garhitā caiva vidhitsā caiva karmaṇām | ākroṣṭā kruśyate caiva vañcito budhyate sa ca ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ରାଜନ୍! ଯାହାର ମନରେ ନିନ୍ଦ୍ୟ ସ୍ପୃହା ଥାଏ ଏବଂ ଯେ ଅନୁଚିତ କର୍ମ କରିବାକୁ ଚାହେ; ଯେ ଅନ୍ୟକୁ ଗାଳି ଦିଏ ଓ ନିଜେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଗାଳି ଶୁଣେ; ଏବଂ ଯେ ଭାଗ୍ୟ ନିଜକୁ ବଞ୍ଚିତ କରିଛି ବୋଲି ଭାବି କଟୁ ହୋଇ ପାପ ପଥେ ବୁଦ୍ଧି ଲଗାଏ—ସେଇ ନୃଶଂସ ସ୍ୱଭାବର ଲକ୍ଷଣ।

Word by Word

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• स्पृहा: desire, craving
• स्पृहा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पृहा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• स्यात्: may be / would be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• गर्हिता: blameworthy, censured
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गर्हित
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

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

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

• विधित्सा: wish/intention to do (something)
• विधित्सा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधित्सा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• कर्मणाम्: of actions/deeds
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• आक्रोष्टा: one who abuses/insults
• आक्रोष्टा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आक्रोष्टृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्रुश्यते: is abused/insulted
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रुश्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada, Passive

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

• एव: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• वञ्चितः: deceived, cheated
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वञ्चित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बुध्यते: understands/realizes; thinks
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma identifies a moral downward spiral: blameworthy craving leads to intent for improper action; habitual abuse invites abuse; and a sense of being wronged or deprived fosters resentment that inclines one toward unethical conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to the king, Bhishma continues a diagnostic description of ignoble dispositions and behaviors, outlining traits by which a person inclined to cruelty and wrongdoing can be recognized.