Shloka 10

Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant

Devanagari script

शिष्टं दान्तं कृतज्ञं च प्रियं च सततं मम । न मे विक्रोशतो राजन्‌ हर्तुमहसि कुज्जरम्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | śiṣṭaṃ dāntaṃ kṛtajñaṃ ca priyaṃ ca satataṃ mama | na me vikrośato rājan hartum arhasi kuñjaram |

Translation

భీష్ముడు అన్నాడు—ఈ ఏనుగు శిష్టుడు, దమనం కలవాడు, కృతజ్ఞుడు, నిత్యం నాకు ప్రియమైనవాడు. రాజా, నేను గట్టిగా నిరసిస్తూ ఉండగా నీవు ఈ ఏనుగును తీసుకుపోవడం తగదు.

Word by Word

• शिष्टम्: well-behaved, cultured
• शिष्टम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दान्तम्: self-controlled, restrained
• दान्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कृतज्ञम्: grateful
• कृतज्ञम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• प्रियम्: dear, beloved
• प्रियम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सततम्: always, constantly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत

• मम: of me, my
• मम: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• मे: of me, my
• मे: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• विक्रोशतः: from (my) crying out / despite (my) loud protest
• विक्रोशतः: Apadana
• Type: Kridanta
• Root: विक्रोशत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• हर्तुम्: to take away, to carry off
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ
• Form: Infinitive

• अहसि: you are fit/entitled (to), you ought
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कुञ्जरम्: elephant
• कुञ्जरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुञ्जर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• rājan (a king addressed)
• kuñjara (elephant)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames dharma as protecting those under one’s care: even an animal that serves faithfully and embodies discipline and gratitude should not be wrongfully seized. Moral fitness (arhasi) is invoked to restrain power with ethical responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma addresses a king who is attempting to take an elephant. He protests loudly and argues from the elephant’s virtues—good conduct, self-control, gratitude, and loyal service—urging the king not to remove it.