Shloka 21

Kṛṣṇasya Karṇam Prati Sāntvavacana

Kṛṣṇa’s Conciliatory Address to Karṇa

Devanagari script

धैर्यवान्‌ और जितेन्द्रिय ब्राह्मण जिनके सहायक हैं, उन उग्र तपस्वी वीर पाण्डवको तुम कैसे जीत सकोगे? ।।

Transliteration

dhairyavān ca jitendriya-brāhmaṇā yeṣāṁ sahāyakāḥ, tān ugrān tapasvino vīrān pāṇḍavān tvaṁ kathaṁ jeṣyasi? punar uktaṁ ca vakṣyāmi yat kāryaṁ bhūtim icchatā—suhṛdā majjamāneṣu suhṛtsu vyasanārṇave; yathā pūrvam uktam api, tathāpi tad ahaṁ punaḥ vakṣyāmi.

Translation

ଯାହାଙ୍କର ସହାୟ ଧୈର୍ୟବାନ୍ ଓ ଜିତେନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନେ, ସେହି ଉଗ୍ରତପସ୍ବୀ ବୀର ପାଣ୍ଡବମାନଙ୍କୁ ତୁମେ କିପରି ଜିତିପାରିବ? ତଥାପି ମୁଁ ପୁନର୍ବାର କହୁଛି—ସତ୍ୟ କଲ୍ୟାଣ ଇଚ୍ଛା କରୁଥିବା ଲୋକଙ୍କ କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ କ’ଣ: ଯେତେବେଳେ ଅନେକ ସୁହୃଦ୍ ବିପଦର ସମୁଦ୍ରରେ ଡୁବୁଛନ୍ତି, ସେତେବେଳେ ହିତେଚ୍ଛୁ ସୁହୃଦ୍‌ର ଧର୍ମ ହେଉଛି ସେଇ ମୁହୂର୍ତ୍ତରେ ଯାହା ଆବଶ୍ୟକ, ତାହା କହିବା। ପୂର୍ବରୁ କହାଯାଇଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ, ମୁଁ ଏହାକୁ ପୁନି କହୁଛି।

Word by Word

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

• उक्तम्: said/spoken
• उक्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), neuter, nominative/accusative, singular

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

• वक्ष्यामि: I will say
• वक्ष्यामि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: simple future (लृट्), 1st, singular, parasmaipada

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• कार्यं: duty; what is to be done
• कार्यं: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• भूतिम्: welfare; prosperity
• भूतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूति
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• इच्छता: by one desiring
• इच्छता: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), masculine/neuter, instrumental, singular

• सुहृदा: by a friend; by a well-wisher
• सुहृदा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद्
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• मज्जमानेषु: when (they are) sinking
• मज्जमानेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: मज्ज्
• Form: शानच् (present middle participle), masculine/neuter, locative, plural

• सुहृत्सु: among friends; in the case of friends
• सुहृत्सु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद्
• Form: masculine, locative, plural

• व्यसन-अर्णवे: in the ocean of calamity
• व्यसन-अर्णवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन + अर्णव
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Pāṇḍavas
• Brāhmaṇas
• Suhṛd (well-wishing friends)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A true well-wisher must speak necessary, dharma-aligned counsel when friends are overwhelmed by disaster, even if that counsel must be repeated; moral support (self-control, austerity, and brāhmaṇic guidance) is presented as a decisive strength.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma warns the Kuru side that defeating the Pāṇḍavas is unrealistic because they are formidable and backed by disciplined brāhmaṇas; he then announces he will restate practical counsel about what a friend should do when allies are drowning in misfortune.