Shloka 38
Śara-śayyā-sthita-bhīṣma-saṃvāda-prastāvaḥ
The Prelude to Questioning Bhīṣma on the Bed of Arrows
Devanagari script
अप्रतिब्रुवतः कष्टो दोषो हि भविता प्रभो
Transliteration
apratibruvataḥ kaṣṭo doṣo hi bhavitā prabho
Translation
О Владыка, если не отвечать — не дать ясного ответа или исправления, — то неизбежно возникнет тяжкий проступок.
Word by Word
अप्रतिब्रुवतःof (one) not replying / not contradicting
अप्रतिब्रुवतः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअ-प्रति-√ब्रू (ब्रवीति)
Formशतृ (वर्तमानकाले), परस्मैपदी-प्रयोगार्थक (कर्तरि), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
कष्टःpainful, grievous
कष्टः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकष्ट
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
दोषःfault, defect
दोषः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदोष
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
हिindeed, for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
भविताwill be / is going to be
भविता:
Karta
TypeVerb
Root√भू (भवति)
Formतृच् (कर्तरि भविष्यदर्थे), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
प्रभोO lord
प्रभो:
TypeNoun
Rootप्रभु
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन
Speaker
वायुदेव उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
Vāyudeva (Wind-god)P
Prabhu (addressed lord/master; addressee unspecified in this half-verse)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Silence in the face of a situation that demands a response—especially when correction, clarification, or rightful counsel is needed—can itself become a moral fault. One should speak responsibly to prevent wrongdoing or misunderstanding.
Vāyudeva addresses a superior as “prabho” and warns that failing to answer or speak in response will lead to a serious blameworthy outcome, emphasizing the ethical duty to respond when dharma requires it.