Shloka 18

Adhyāya 164: Gautama as Guest; Kaśyapa’s Satkāra and the Fourfold Arthagati; Journey to Virūpākṣa

Devanagari script

विभ्रमाल्लोकबाह्वानां द्वेष्यैर्वाक्यैरसम्मतै: । कुत्सा संजायते राजॉलल्‍लोकान प्रेक्ष्याभिशाम्यति

Transliteration

vibhramāl lokabāhyānāṃ dveṣyair vākyair asammataiḥ | kutsā saṃjāyate rājann al lokān prekṣyābhiśāmyati ||

Translation

Бхишма сказал: О царь, когда человек впадает в смятение, слушая ненавистные и недостоверные речи низких людей, изгнанных из доброго общества, в нём возникает привычка придираться и поносить. Но при виде благородных эта склонность умиротворяется и угасает.

Word by Word

• विभ्रमात्: from delusion/confusion
• विभ्रमात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभ्रम
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• लोकबाह्यानाम्: of those outside society (outcasts)
• लोकबाह्यानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोकबाह्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• द्वेष्यैः: by hateful
• द्वेष्यैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वेष्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• वाक्यैः: by words/speeches
• वाक्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• असम्मतैः: unapproved/unauthoritative
• असम्मतैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असम्मत
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• कुत्सा: censure/abuse (fault-finding)
• कुत्सा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुत्सा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• संजायते: arises/is produced
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+जन्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• लोकान्: people/worlds
• लोकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• प्रेक्ष्य: having seen/observed
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+ईक्ष्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada/Atmanepada-neutral

• अभिशाम्यति: becomes calm/is pacified
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+शम्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• King (Yudhishthira implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Malicious and untrustworthy talk from degraded company breeds a habit of censure, but the sight and association of noble people calms that impulse; therefore one should avoid corrupt influences and seek the company of the good.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction to the king in the Shanti Parva, he explains how a ruler’s mind can be disturbed by hostile, unreliable counsel from unworthy persons, and how exposure to virtuous people restores calm and right judgment.