Shloka 14

Kīṭopākhyāna: Prajā-pālana as Kṣatra-vrata and the Attainment of Brāhmaṇya

Devanagari script

क्षतं च स्खलितं चैव पतितं कृष्टमाहतम्‌ । सर्वभूतानि रक्षन्ति समेषु विषमेषु च

Transliteration

kṣataṃ ca skhalitaṃ caiva patitaṃ kṛṣṭam āhatam | sarvabhūtāni rakṣanti sameṣu viṣameṣu ca ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు అన్నాడు—గాయపడినవాడు, తడబడుతున్నవాడు, పడిపోయినవాడు, ప్రవాహంలో లాగబడుతున్నవాడు, కొట్టబడ్డవాడు—లేదా సురక్షితమైనా ప్రమాదకరమైనా ఏ స్థితిలో ఉన్నవాడైనా—అటువంటి వానిని సమస్త జీవులు కాపాడుతాయి.

Word by Word

• क्षतम्: wounded
• क्षतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षत (√क्षत्/क्षन्- ‘to wound’ > past participle ‘wounded’)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

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

• स्खलितम्: stumbled/slipped
• स्खलितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्खलित (√स्खल् ‘to stumble/slip’ > past participle)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• पतितम्: fallen
• पतितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पतित (√पत् ‘to fall’ > past participle)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• कृष्टम्: dragged/drawn along
• कृष्टम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ट (√कृष् ‘to draw/drag’ > past participle)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• आहतम्: struck/afflicted
• आहतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आहत (आ-√हन् ‘to strike’ > past participle)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• सर्वभूतानि: all beings/creatures
• सर्वभूतानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वभूत (सर्व + भूत)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• रक्षन्ति: protect
• Type: Verb
• Root: √रक्ष्
• Form: Present (Lat), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• समेषु: in even (conditions/places)
• समेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: सम (adj. ‘even/level’)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• विषमेषु: in uneven/difficult (conditions/places)
• विषमेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: विषम (adj. ‘uneven/difficult’)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

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

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• sarvabhūtāni (all beings/creatures)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The helpless—wounded, fallen, or endangered—deserve protection; compassion and safeguarding the vulnerable is presented as a universal dharmic principle applicable in both favorable and adverse circumstances.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma, in his instruction on dharma, states a general moral observation: when someone is hurt or in danger, the natural and righteous response of beings is to protect them, emphasizing duty of care regardless of the situation.