Shloka 15

लुब्धक-कपोत-कपोती-आख्यानम्

The Hunter and the Pigeon Couple: Expiation and Refuge-Ethics

Devanagari script

तथा रोगाभि भूतस्य नित्यं कृच्छूगतस्य च । नास्ति भार्यासमं किंचिन्नरस्यार्तस्य भेषजम्‌

Transliteration

tathā rogābhibhūtasya nityaṃ kṛcchrūgatasya ca | nāsti bhāryāsamaṃ kiñcin narasyārtasya bheṣajam ||

Translation

Бхишма сказал: «Так же и для человека, сокрушённого болезнью, и для того, кто долго пребывает в нужде, нет лекарства для страдальца, равного жене».

Word by Word

• तथा: thus; likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• रोगाभिभूतस्य: of one overcome by disease
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोगाभिभूत
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• नित्यम्: always; constantly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• कृच्छ्रगतस्य: of one who has fallen into hardship/distress
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृच्छ्रगत
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

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

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

• अस्ति: there is
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular

• भार्यासमम्: equal to a wife; like a wife
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भार्या-सम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• किंचित्: anything; something (here: anything at all)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किंचित्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• नरस्य: of a man
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• आर्तस्य: of the afflicted/suffering one
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• भेषजम्: medicine; remedy
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेषज
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• wife (bhāryā)
• disease (roga)
• remedy/medicine (bheṣaja)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that in prolonged suffering—whether illness or enduring adversity—the presence of a wife is the most effective 'remedy' for a man, emphasizing the ethical ideal of mutual support and care within household life.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising on dharma and social well-being, highlighting the stabilizing, healing role of the wife within the household, especially during times of distress.