Shloka 15

Parāśara’s Counsel on बुद्धि (Discernment), Karma-Consequences, and Avoidance of Pāpānubandha Actions

Devanagari script

शस्त्रैश्व विविधैर्दिव्यै: पावकोल्काभिरेव च । देवासुरैस्तत: सैन्यै: सर्वमासीत्‌ समाकुलम्‌

Transliteration

śastraiś ca vividhair divyaiḥ pāvakolkābhir eva ca | devāsuraiḥ tataḥ sainyaiḥ sarvam āsīt samākulam ||

Translation

ସେତେବେଳେ ଖଡ଼୍ଗ, ପଟ୍ଟିଶ, ତ୍ରିଶୂଳ, ଶକ୍ତି, ତୋମର, ମୁଦ୍ଗର, ନାନାପ୍ରକାର ଶିଳା, ଭୟଙ୍କର ଟଙ୍କାର କରୁଥିବା ଧନୁ, ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଦିବ୍ୟ ଅସ୍ତ୍ର-ଶସ୍ତ୍ର, ଅଗ୍ନିଜ୍ୱାଳା ଏବଂ ଦେବ-ଅସୁର ସେନାରେ ସମଗ୍ର ଆକାଶ ଆବୃତ ହୋଇଗଲା; ସର୍ବତ୍ର ଶସ୍ତ୍ରସଂଘାତର ଘୋର କୋଳାହଳ ଛାଇଲା।

Word by Word

• शस्त्रैः: with weapons
• शस्त्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

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

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• दिव्यैः: divine
• दिव्यैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• पावक-उल्काभिः: with firebrands/flaming meteors
• पावक-उल्काभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक-उल्का
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

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

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

• देव-असुरैः: by/with gods and asuras
• देव-असुरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-असुर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• सैन्यैः: with armies/forces
• सैन्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• सर्वम्: all (of it)
• सर्वम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• आसीत्: was
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• समाकुलम्: confused, tumultuous, crowded
• समाकुलम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाकुल
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• śastra (weapons)
• divya-astra/śastra (celestial weapons)
• pāvaka (fire)
• ulkā (firebrands)
• deva (gods)
• asura (asuras)
• sainya (armies)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how warfare—especially when empowered by ‘divine’ means—rapidly becomes all-consuming chaos. Implicitly, it cautions that violence, once unleashed, overwhelms order and discernment, challenging the ethical restraint central to dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes a scene of intense battle in which the sky/space is filled with many kinds of weapons, blazing firebrands, and the assembled hosts of devas and asuras, creating a state of total tumult and confusion.