Shloka 7

Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

इदमन्तरमित्येव शक्रो नृपममोहयत्‌ । एकाशथ्चैन च राजर्षि भ्रान्त इन्द्रेण मोहित:

Transliteration

idam antaram ity eva śakro nṛpam amohayat | ekāśvaś cainaṃ ca rājarṣi bhrānta indreṇa mohitaḥ ||

Translation

Бхишма сказал: «Подумав: “Вот он, промежуток — вот истинный случай для мести”, Шакра (Индра) поверг царя в наваждение. Околдованный Индрой и сбитый с толку, царственный риши — оставшись лишь с одним конём — блуждал в смятении, утратил всякое чувство направления и метался туда и сюда, терзаемый голодом и жаждой и изнурённый усилиями.»

Word by Word

• इदम्: this (thing/idea)
• इदम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अन्तरम्: interval; opportunity
• अन्तरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• एव: indeed; just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नृपम्: the king
• नृपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अमोहयत्: bewildered; deluded
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुह्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, Causative (ṇij)

• एकाश्वः: having a single horse
• एकाश्वः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाश्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• राजर्षिः: royal sage
• राजर्षिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजर्षि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भ्रान्तः: confused; wandering
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रान्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इन्द्रेण: by Indra
• इन्द्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• मोहितः: deluded
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोहित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Indra (Śakra)
• the king (rājarṣi; identified in the prose as Bhangāśvana)
• a single horse (eka-aśva)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how moha (delusion) can be imposed or intensified by powerful forces, leading even a rājarṣi to lose discernment and direction. Ethically, it warns that acting from a revenge-minded ‘opportunity’ (antaram) can precipitate confusion and suffering rather than righteous resolution.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra (Śakra), seeking a moment to retaliate, deludes the king. Under this enchantment the king becomes disoriented and wanders about with only one horse, suffering hunger, thirst, and exhaustion.