Shanti Parva Adhyaya 142 Shloka 44 - Mahabharata | Telugu | Vedapath

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Shloka 44

Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)

Devanagari script

स सुप्त इव चाण्डाल: श्लेष्मापिहितलोचन: । परिभिजन्नस्वरो रूक्ष: प्रोवाचाप्रियदर्शन:

Transliteration

sa supta iva cāṇḍālaḥ śleṣmāpihita-locanaḥ | paribhijann asvaro rūkṣaḥ provācāpriya-darśanaḥ ||

Translation

ఆ చాండాలుడు నిద్రిస్తున్నట్టే కనిపించాడు; కఫంతో కళ్లూ మూసుకుపోయినట్టుండెను. అయినా అతడు మేల్కొని ఉన్నాడు. చూడటానికి భయంకరుడు, స్వభావంలో రూక్షుడు; చీలిన, కఠిన స్వరంతో పలికాడు.

Word by Word

सःhe/that (person)

सुप्तःasleep

इवas if/like

चाण्डालःa caṇḍāla (outcaste)

श्लेष्मापिहितलोचनःwhose eyes were covered with phlegm/mucus

परिभिजन्splitting/cracking (i.e., broken)

अस्वरःvoiceless/hoarse (without proper voice)

रूक्षःharsh/rough

प्रोवाचsaid/spoke forth

अप्रियदर्शनःof unpleasant appearance

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Caṇḍāla

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?

The verse sets up an ethical contrast: outward signs—uncleanliness, harshness, frightening appearance—can mislead moral judgment. It prepares the listener to consider that dharma requires discernment beyond surface impressions, especially regarding marginalized persons.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a Caṇḍāla who looks asleep with eyes crusted over, yet is awake. He appears frightening and rough, and then speaks in a broken, harsh voice—introducing a charged encounter that tests perception and moral response.