Shloka 18

Devanagari script

शून्याकारं निराकारा: शुकं दृष्टवा विवासस: । उसमें बहुत-सी अप्सराएँ स्नान एवं जलक्रीड़ा कर रही थीं। यद्यपि वे नंगी थीं, तो भी शुकदेवजीको शून्याकार (बाह्ज्ञानसे रहित एवं आत्मनिष्ठ) देख अपने शरीरको ढकने या छिपानेके लिये उद्यत नहीं हुईं ।। त॑ प्रक्रामन्तमाज्ञाय पिता स्नेहसमन्वितः

Transliteration

śūnyākāraṁ nirākārāḥ śukaṁ dṛṣṭvā vivāsasaḥ | taṁ prakrāmantam ājñāya pitā snehasamanvitaḥ ||

Translation

Бхишма сказал: «Увидев Шуку — погружённого в Атман и потому как бы “пустого” для внешнего, предметного восприятия, — апсары, умом не привязанные к форме, хотя и были нагими, не почувствовали нужды прикрыться или скрыться. Когда же его отец, движимый любовью, понял, что Шука идёт…»

Word by Word

शून्याकारम्having the form of emptiness; devoid of outward cognition

निराकाराःformless (i.e., without concern for bodily form)

शुकम्Śuka (Śukadeva)

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen

विवाससःnaked, unclothed

तम्him

प्रक्रामन्तम्walking forth; proceeding

आज्ञायhaving known; having understood

पिताthe father

स्नेहसमन्वितःendowed with affection

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Śuka (Śukadeva)

Apsarases

Śuka's father (Vyāsa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True purity and restraint are rooted in inner realization: when one is established in the Self and not objectifying others, social triggers like shame, display, or provocation lose their force. The verse highlights how perception shaped by detachment transforms ethical interaction.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śuka passes by apsarases who are bathing and unclothed; recognizing his complete inward absorption and lack of outward, desirous gaze, they do not attempt to cover themselves. The verse then transitions to Vyāsa, Śuka’s father, noticing Śuka as he proceeds.