Shloka 11

Prahlāda–Indra Saṃvāda: Kartṛtva (Agency) and Svabhāva (Nature) in the Causation of Karma

Devanagari script

कल्कापेतामपरुषामनृशंसामपैशुनाम्‌ । ईदृगल्पं च वक्तव्यमविक्षिप्तेन चेतसा

Transliteration

kalkāpetām aparuṣām anṛśaṃsām apaiśunām | īdṛg-alpaṃ ca vaktavyam avikṣiptena cetasā ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ମଲିନତାରହିତ, ଅକଠୋର, ଅକ୍ରୂର ଓ ପରନିନ୍ଦାରହିତ ବାକ୍ୟ ହିଁ କହିବା ଉଚିତ। ଏମିତି ବାଣୀ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅତି ଅଳ୍ପମାତ୍ରାରେ, ଅବିକ୍ଷିପ୍ତ—ସ୍ଥିର—ଚେତନାରେ କହିବା ଉଚିତ; ବିଶେଷକରି ଯେ ଧର୍ମର ସୂକ୍ଷ୍ମତା ଦେଖେ ଓ ସତ୍ୟରେ ହିତକର କଥା କହିବାକୁ ଚାହେ।

Word by Word

• कल्कापेताम्: free from impurity/sin
• कल्कापेताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कल्क-अपेत
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अपरुषाम्: not harsh
• अपरुषाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-परुष
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अनृशंसाम्: not cruel; compassionate
• अनृशंसाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-नृशंस
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अपैशुनाम्: free from slander/backbiting
• अपैशुनाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-पैशुन
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• ईदृक्: such (of this kind)
• ईदृक्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अल्पम्: little; limited
• अल्पम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• वक्तव्यम्: should be spoken
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: तव्यत्, Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular, Obligative (gerundive)

• अविक्षिप्तेन: with undistracted (steady)
• अविक्षिप्तेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-वि-क्षिप्त
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• चेतसा: with mind; with consciousness
• चेतसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Speech should be ethically purified: truthful yet non-harmful, gentle, compassionate, and free from slander; moreover, even good speech should be measured and spoken with a steady, undistracted mind.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on dharma and proper conduct; here he gives a rule of disciplined speech as part of ethical living and self-mastery.