Shloka 29

Droṇa–Vidura–Gāndhārī Counsel in the Royal Assembly (धर्मार्थयुक्ता सभा-उपदेश-प्रकरणम्)

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच प्रजानां क्रोशतीनां वै नैवाक्षुभ्यत मे मन: । प्रतिज्ञां रक्षमाणस्य सद्‌ वृत्तं स्मरतस्तथा

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca prajānāṁ krośatīnāṁ vai naivākṣubhyata me manaḥ | pratijñāṁ rakṣamāṇasya sadvṛttaṁ smaratastathā ||

Translation

ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਪ੍ਰਜਾ ਦੇ ਕਰੁਣ ਰੋਣੇ ਸੁਣ ਕੇ ਵੀ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨ ਰਤਾ ਭਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਡੋਲਿਆ; ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਮੈਂ ਆਪਣੀ ਪ੍ਰਤਿਗਿਆ ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੱਗਾ ਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਸਦਾਚਾਰ ਦੀ ਯਾਦ ਨੂੰ ਦ੍ਰਿੜ੍ਹ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਸੀ।

Word by Word

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular

• प्रजानाम्: of the subjects/people
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• क्रोशतीनाम्: of (those) crying out
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रुश्
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

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

• एव: just/at all
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• अक्षुभ्यत्: was agitated
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षुभ्
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मे: my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• प्रतिज्ञाम्: vow/promise
• प्रतिज्ञाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिज्ञा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• रक्षमाणस्य: of (me) protecting/keeping
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: Present middle participle (शानच्), Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• सत्-वृत्तम्: good conduct/virtuous practice
• सत्-वृत्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद्वृत्त
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• स्मरतः: of (me) remembering
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• तथा: thus/so
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• the subjects (prajāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Steadfastness in a solemn vow, supported by constant remembrance of righteous conduct (sadvṛtta), can keep the mind unshaken even amid intense public distress; it highlights inner discipline and commitment to dharma as a stabilizing force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma reflects on a moment when the people lamented loudly; despite their cries, he says his mind did not become disturbed because he was focused on preserving his pledge and recalling the standards of proper conduct.