Shloka 11

Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

चक्षुनिमिषमात्रेण लघ्वस्त्रगतिगामिनी । विदेहानां पुरी सुभ्रूर्जनणाम कमलेक्षणा

Transliteration

cakṣu-nimiṣa-mātreṇa laghv-astra-gati-gāminī | videhānāṁ purī subhrūr jananām kamalekṣaṇā ||

Translation

Бхишма сказал: В одно лишь мгновение — в меру моргания — та лотосоокая дева с прекрасными бровями, стремительная, как лёгкий снаряд, достигла города видехов.

Word by Word

• चक्षु-निमिष-मात्रेण: in (only) the measure of an eye-blink
• चक्षु-निमिष-मात्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षु + निमिष + मात्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• लघु-अस्त्र-गति-गामिनी: she who moves with the speed of swift missiles
• लघु-अस्त्र-गति-गामिनी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लघु + अस्त्र + गति + गामिनी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• विदेहानाम्: of the Videhas
• विदेहानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदेह
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• पुरी: city (capital)
• पुरी: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सुभ्रूः: the fair-browed (maiden)
• सुभ्रूः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुभ्रू
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• जनणाम्: of people
• जनणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• कमल-ईक्षणा: lotus-eyed
• कमल-ईक्षणा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कमल + ईक्षण
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Videha
• Videha capital city (purī; traditionally Mithilā)
• astra (missile/weapon)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores extraordinary capability (speed likened to a missile) coupled with directed intent—power is meaningful when it serves a purpose, not when it is merely exhibited.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a lotus-eyed maiden who, with astonishing swiftness—within a blink—travels to the capital city of the Videha realm (traditionally identified as Mithilā).