Shloka 17

Adhyāya 174: Karma as an inescapable companion (कर्मानुगमन-उपदेश)

Devanagari script

शापश्न सुमहांस्तस्य दत्त: सुरगणैस्तदा । कुक्षौ पुनर्भ्वा: पापो5यं जनयित्वा चिरात्‌ सुतान्‌

Transliteration

śāpaś ca sumahāṁs tasya dattaḥ suragaṇais tadā | kukṣau punarbhavaḥ pāpo ’yaṁ janayitvā cirāt sutān |

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ସେତେବେଳେ ଦେବଗଣ ତାହାର ଉପରେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଭୟଙ୍କର ଶାପ ଦେଲେ—“ଏହି ପାପୀ ପୁନର୍ଜନ୍ମ ନେବ; ଦୀର୍ଘ କାଳ ପରେ ମାତ୍ର ପୁତ୍ର ସନ୍ତାନ ପାଇବ।”

Word by Word

• शापः: curse
• शापः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुमहान्: very great
• सुमहान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमहत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तस्य: of him / his
• तस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• दत्तः: given
• दत्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (ददाति)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुरगणैः: by the hosts of gods
• सुरगणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरगण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

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

• कुक्षौ: in the womb/belly
• कुक्षौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुक्षि
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (भवति)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Non-finite

• पापः: sinful/evil
• पापः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• जनयित्वा: having begotten/produced
• जनयित्वा: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (जनयति)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund; causative sense), Non-finite

• चिरात्: after a long time
• चिरात्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरात्

• सुतान्: sons
• सुतान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• suragaṇa (hosts of gods)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Actions that violate dharma can draw grave consequences: divine or cosmic justice may manifest as suffering in future births, including delayed fulfillment of worldly aims such as progeny.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma recounts that the gods collectively pronounced a harsh curse on a particular sinful individual, decreeing rebirth and that he would obtain sons only after a long delay.