Shloka 15

Devanagari script

शत्रुभिर्वशमानीतो हीन: स्थानादनुत्तमात्‌ | वैरोचने किमाश्रित्य शोचितव्ये न शोचसि,“विरोचनकुमार! तुम शत्रुओंके वशमें पड़े और उत्तम स्थान (राज्य) से भ्रष्ट हुए--इस प्रकार शोचनीय दशामें पड़कर भी तुम किस बलका सहारा लेकर शोक नहीं करते हो?

Transliteration

śatrubhir vaśamānīto hīnaḥ sthānād anuttamāt | vairocane kim āśritya śocitavye na śocasi ||

Translation

ఓ వైరోచన కుమారా! శత్రువుల వశమై, అనుత్తమ స్థానము (రాజ్యము) నుండి నీవు పతితుడవైనావు; ఇంత శోచనీయ స్థితిలోనూ ఏ ఆధారబలాన్ని ఆశ్రయించి నీవు శోకించుట లేదు?

Word by Word

• शत्रुभिः: by enemies
• शत्रुभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वशम्: subjection, control
• वशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आनीतः: brought (having been brought)
• आनीतः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-नी (नी)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular, passive/resultative

• हीनः: deprived, fallen
• हीनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्थानात्: from (your) position/state
• स्थानात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• अनुत्तमात्: from the unsurpassed/excellent (one)
• अनुत्तमात्: Apadana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• वैरोचने: O Vairocana (son of Virocana)
• वैरोचने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैरोचन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आश्रित्य: having relied on, taking refuge in
• आश्रित्य: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्रि (श्रि)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), active

• शोचितव्ये: in a lamentable (situation), when it should be lamented
• शोचितव्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोचितव्य
• Form: तव्यत् (gerundive: 'to be ...'), Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

• शोचसि: you grieve
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुच्
• Form: Lat (present), Parasmaipada, Second, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Vairocana (as patronymic address: son of Virocana)
• Enemies (śatru)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse probes the basis of inner steadiness: when external power and status are lost and one is subjugated, true strength is shown by the support one relies on—such as discernment, dharma, or self-control—rather than being swept away by grief.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma addresses a figure called “Vairocana” (son/descendant of Virocana), noting that he has been overcome by enemies and fallen from a supreme position. Bhishma challenges him: despite being in a lamentable state, what inner refuge or power enables him not to mourn?