Shloka 48

Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances

Devanagari script

मन्त्रीपदपर आते समय सियारने यह शर्त करा ली थी कि राजन! यदि आप मुझसे मैत्री चाहते हैं तो किसीके बहकावेमें आकर मेरा विनाश न कर डालियेगा ।।

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | kṣudhitasya mṛgendrasya bhoktum abhyutthitasya ca | bhojanāyopahartavyaṃ tan māṃsaṃ nopadṛśyate ||

Translation

ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਹੇ ਰਾਜਨ! ਮ੍ਰਿਗੇਂਦ੍ਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਜਦੋਂ ਭੁੱਖ ਨਾਲ ਵਿਆਕੁਲ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਭੋਜਨ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਉੱਠਿਆ, ਤਾਂ ਉਸ ਲਈ ਜੋ ਮਾਸ ਪਰੋਸਿਆ ਜਾਣਾ ਸੀ, ਉਹ ਕਿਤੇ ਵੀ ਨਜ਼ਰ ਨਾ ਆਇਆ।

Word by Word

• क्षुधितस्य: of the hungry
• क्षुधितस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुधित (क्षुध् + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• मृगेन्द्रस्य: of the lion (lord of beasts)
• मृगेन्द्रस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• भोक्तुम्: to eat
• भोक्तुम्: Prayojana
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज्
• Form: Infinitive (Tumun), Parasmaipada/Atmanepada-neutral

• अभ्युत्थितस्य: of (him) who had risen/started up
• अभ्युत्थितस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभ्युत्थित (अभि + उत् + स्था + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

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

• भोजनाय: for eating/for food
• भोजनाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन
• Form: Neuter, Dative, Singular

• उपहर्तव्यम्: to be brought/served
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-हृ (हृ + तव्य)
• Form: Gerundive (Tavya), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• मांसम्: meat
• मांसम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

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

• उपदृश्यते: is seen/appears
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√दृश्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Atmanepada (passive-like usage), 3rd, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• King (addressed as rājan)
• Lion (mṛgendra)
• Meat/food (māṃsa, bhojana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must not allow rightful support and trust to be undermined; when what is due is withheld (like food from a hungry lion), the resulting frustration can trigger disorder and harm. The verse cautions against betrayal, negligence, and being swayed by bad counsel.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma uses a vivid metaphor: a hungry lion rises to eat, but the meat meant to be served is not found. The image functions as a moral illustration within Bhishma’s instruction on governance and ethical conduct.