Shloka 18
Mahāvasu’s Fall by Speech-Error and Release through Devotion (अज-विवादः वसोः शापः विमोचनं च)
Devanagari script
त॑ महात्मा स्वयं प्रीत्या देव्या सह महाद्युति:
Transliteration
taṁ mahātmā svayaṁ prītyā devyā saha mahādyutiḥ
Translation
तं महात्मा स्वयं प्रीत्या देव्या सह महाद्युतिः।
Word by Word
तम्him
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
महात्माthe great-souled one
महात्मा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहात्मन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
स्वयम्himself
स्वयम्:
Karta
TypeIndeclinable
Rootस्वयम्
प्रीत्याwith affection / out of love
प्रीत्या:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootप्रीति
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
देव्याwith the goddess / with the divine lady
देव्या:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootदेवी
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
सहtogether with
सह:
Karana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसह
महाद्युतिःof great splendor
महाद्युतिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहाद्युति
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
M
mahātmā (a great-souled person)D
devī (goddess)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that truly noble action arises from prīti (goodwill) and is aligned with divine support (devyā saha), implying that ethical conduct is strengthened when personal intention is benevolent and harmonized with higher, dharmic order.
Bhishma describes a great, radiant figure who personally undertakes an act, accompanied by a goddess—suggesting a moment where a significant decision or intervention is carried out with affectionate intent and divine association.