Shloka 53

Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154

Devanagari script

अथवास्तंगते सूर्ये संध्धाकाल उपस्थिते । ततो नेष्यथ वा पुत्रमिहस्था वा भविष्यथ

Transliteration

athavāstaṅgate sūrye sandhyākāla upasthite | tato neṣyatha vā putram ihasthā vā bhaviṣyatha ||

Translation

ਜੰਬੂਕ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਨਹੀਂ ਤਾਂ ਇੰਨਾ ਕਰੋ: ਜਦ ਤੱਕ ਸੂਰਜ ਅਸਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਅਤੇ ਸੰਧਿਆ ਦਾ ਸਮਾਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ, ਤਦ ਤੱਕ ਇੱਥੇ ਹੀ ਠਹਿਰੋ; ਫਿਰ ਜਾਂ ਤਾਂ ਇਸ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਨੂੰ ਨਾਲ ਲੈ ਜਾਓ, ਜਾਂ ਇੱਥੇ ਹੀ ਰਹੋ।

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा

• अस्तंगते: when (he) has set
• अस्तंगते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्तंगत
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सूर्ये: in/at the sun (i.e., when the sun)
• सूर्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• संध्याकाले: at twilight-time
• संध्याकाले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्याकाल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• उपस्थिते: when (it is) present/arrived
• उपस्थिते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपस्थित
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• नेष्यथ: you will lead/take
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), Second, Plural, Parasmaipada

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• पुत्रम्: son
• पुत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• स्थाः: stay (you all)!
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: Imperative (Loṭ), Second, Plural, Parasmaipada

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• भविष्यथ: you will be / you will remain
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), Second, Plural, Parasmaipada

Speaker

जम्बुक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• जम्बुक (Jambuka)
• सूर्य (the Sun)
• संध्याकाल (twilight time)
• पुत्र (the boy/son)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes restraint and careful timing: at a sensitive juncture (sunset/twilight), one should pause and then decide responsibly—either to take the child away or to remain—rather than act impulsively.

What is happening in the narrative?

Jambuka addresses others and proposes a conditional plan tied to sunset and twilight: they should wait until that time arrives, and then choose between two courses of action regarding the boy—taking him along or staying there.