Shloka 168

Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

अथापीमासु संज्ञासु लौकिकीषु प्रतिष्ठसे । अभिषड्जवरोधाभ्यां बद्धस्त्वं प्राकृतो यथा

Transliteration

athāpīmāsu saṃjñāsu laukikīṣu pratiṣṭhase | abhiṣaḍjavirodhābhyāṃ baddhastvaṃ prākṛto yathā ||

Translation

ଏବେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଯଦି ତୁମେ ‘ବିଦେହରାଜ’, ‘ମିଥିଲାପତି’ ପରି ଲୌକିକ ସଂଜ୍ଞାମାନଙ୍କରେ ହିଁ ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠିତ ରହୁଛ, ତେବେ ସାଧାରଣ ମଣିଷ ପରି ଆସକ୍ତି ଓ ବିରୋଧ (ଦ୍ୱେଷ) ଦ୍ୱାରା ତୁମେ ବନ୍ଧିତ।

Word by Word

• अथ: now/then; moreover
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• इमासु: in these
• इमासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• संज्ञासु: in (these) designations/names
• संज्ञासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संज्ञा
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• लौकिकीषु: worldly/common (names)
• लौकिकीषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लौकिक
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• प्रतिष्ठसे: you stand established/you remain fixed
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-स्था
• Form: Lat (Present), Atmanepada, Second, Singular

• अभि: towards; over (prefix-like)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि

• षड्ज: by attachment (rāga) (as one of the pair)
• षड्ज: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: षड्ज
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

• अवरोधाभ्याम्: by obstruction/impediment (as the other of the pair)
• अवरोधाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवरोध
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

• बद्धः: bound
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• प्राकृतः: ordinary/common (person)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यथा: as/like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

Speaker

भीष्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Videha (as a royal designation)
• Mithilā (as a royal designation)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma warns that clinging to social identities and honorific titles is a subtle form of bondage. True inner freedom requires dropping identification with worldly labels, otherwise one remains constrained by attachment (clinging) and resistance (aversion/obstruction).

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s instruction within Śānti Parva’s reflective teachings, he addresses a seeker/kingly figure and challenges their self-conception. By pointing to titles like ‘Videha-rāja’ and ‘Mithilā-pati,’ he shows how even respected identities can keep the mind tied to ordinary patterns of desire and aversion.