Shloka 12

Adhyāya 214: Tapas Redefined—Perpetual Discipline, Hospitality, and the Ethics of Eating (तपः-निरूपणम्, विघसाशी-अतिथिप्रिय-धर्मः)

Devanagari script

योषितां न कथा क्षाव्या न निरीक्ष्या निरम्बरा: । कथज्वचिद्‌ दर्शनादासां दुर्बलानां विशेद्रज:

Transliteration

yoṣitāṁ na kathā kṣāvyā na nirīkṣyā nirambarāḥ | kathañcid darśanād āsāṁ durbalānāṁ viśed rajaḥ ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ସ୍ତ୍ରୀମାନଙ୍କ ବିଷୟରେ କଥା ଶୁଣିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ, ଏବଂ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ନିର୍ବସ୍ତ୍ର ଅବସ୍ଥାରେ ଦେଖିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ; କାରଣ କୌଣସି ପ୍ରକାରେ ଯଦି ସେମାନଙ୍କ ନଗ୍ନ ଦର୍ଶନ ହୋଇଯାଏ, ତେବେ ଦୁର୍ବଳ ସଂଯମ ଥିବା ପୁରୁଷମାନଙ୍କ ମନରେ ରଜୋଗୁଣ—କାମ ଓ ଆସକ୍ତି—ପ୍ରବେଶ କରେ।

Word by Word

• योषिताम्: of women
• योषिताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

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

• कथा: talk, discussion
• कथा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• श्राव्या: to be listened to / should be heard
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular, gerundive (potential passive participle), -tavya/-ya sense

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

• निरीक्ष्या: to be looked at / should be seen
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-ईक्ष्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular, gerundive (potential passive participle)

• निरम्बराः: naked, without clothing
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरम्बर
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• कथंचित्: somehow, by some chance
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथंचित्

• दर्शनात्: from seeing, due to sight
• दर्शनात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• आसाम्: of these (women)
• आसाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• दुर्बलानाम्: of the weak (men)
• दुर्बलानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्बल
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• विशेत्: may enter
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-शि (विश्/शि: to enter)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• रजः: rajas (passion), lustful impulse
• रजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• women (yoṣitaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse advises restraint of speech and sight: avoid prurient discussion and avoid gazing at nudity, because such stimuli can awaken rajas—desire and attachment—especially in those with weak self-mastery.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma is giving ethical guidance to Yudhishthira on conduct and discipline, emphasizing control of the senses and guarding the mind from triggers of passion.