Shloka 6

Durgātitaraṇa—Conduct for Crossing Difficulties (दुर्गातितरणम्)

Devanagari script

मातापित्रोश्व ये वृत्तिं वर्तन्ते धर्मकोविदा: । वर्जयन्ति दिवा स्वप्न दुर्गण्यतितरन्ति ते,जो धर्मज्ञ पुरुष सदा माता-पिताकी सेवामें लगे रहते हैं और दिनमें कभी सोते नहीं हैं, वे सभी दु:खोंसे छूट जाते हैं

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | mātāpitror ye vṛttiṁ vartante dharmakovidāḥ | varjayanti divā svapnaṁ durgaṇy atitaranti te ||

Translation

भीष्म उवाच—ये धर्मकोविदा मातापित्रोः सेवावृत्तिं वर्तन्ते, दिवा स्वप्नं च वर्जयन्ति, ते दुर्गाण्यतितरन्ति; नानाविधदुःखैः प्रमुच्यन्ते।

Word by Word

मातापित्रोःof (one's) mother and father

चand

येwho (those who)

वृत्तिम्conduct; mode of life; service/attendance

वर्तन्तेbehave; conduct themselves; engage in

धर्मकोविदाःknowers of dharma

वर्जयन्तिavoid; shun

दिवाby day; in the daytime

स्वप्नम्sleep

दुर्गाणिdifficulties; hardships

अतितरन्तिcross over; overcome

तेthey

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

mother

father

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma teaches that dharmic life is grounded in practical conduct: steady service to one’s parents and disciplined habits (such as avoiding daytime sleep) help a person overcome adversity and reduce suffering.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous living, Bhishma continues advising on ethical duties and daily disciplines, highlighting filial service and personal restraint as marks of those who truly know dharma.