Shloka 1936

Prajñā as Pratiṣṭhā — Indra–Kāśyapa Saṃvāda (Śānti-parva 12.173)

Devanagari script

नैच्छन्त तं भक्षयितुं पापकर्माणमित्युत । राक्षसराजके इस प्रकार आदेश देनेपर भी भयानक पराक्रमी राक्षसोंने गौतमको खानेकी इच्छा नहीं की; क्योंकि वह घोर पापाचारी था

Transliteration

naicchanta taṁ bhakṣayituṁ pāpakarmāṇam ity uta | rākṣasarājake

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—“ଏ ଲୋକ ପାପକର୍ମୀ”—ଏଭଳି କହି ସେମାନେ ତାକୁ ଭକ୍ଷଣ କରିବାକୁ ଚାହିଲେ ନାହିଁ। ଏହିପରି ରାକ୍ଷସରାଜ ଆଦେଶ ଦେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ, ଭୟଙ୍କର ପରାକ୍ରମୀ ସେଇ ରାକ୍ଷସମାନେ ଗୌତମକୁ ଖାଇବାକୁ ଇଚ୍ଛା କଲେ ନାହିଁ; କାରଣ ସେ ଘୋର ପାପାଚାରୀ ଥିଲା।

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• ऐच्छन्: they wished
• ऐच्छन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (इच्छ्)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, plural, Parasmaipada

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• भक्षयितुम्: to eat/devour
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष्
• Form: tumun (infinitive)

• पापकर्माणम्: one of sinful deeds
• पापकर्माणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पापकर्मन्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• उत: and/also (emphatic particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Rakshasa-king
• Rakshasas
• Gautama

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even beings known for violence recognize moral pollution: extreme sinfulness is portrayed as repulsive and unworthy, suggesting that adharma carries consequences that extend beyond legal punishment—one’s very person becomes ethically tainted and socially rejected.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma narrates that a Rakshasa-king orders his Rakshasas to devour Gautama, but they refuse, declaring him a grievous sinner; despite the command, they do not wish to eat him because of his wicked conduct.