Shloka 14

Parāśara’s Counsel on बुद्धि (Discernment), Karma-Consequences, and Avoidance of Pāpānubandha Actions

Devanagari script

असिश्रि: पट्टिशै: शूलै: शक्तितोमुद्गरै: | शिलाभिरवविंविधाभिश्न कार्मुकैश्न महास्वनै:

Transliteration

asiśriḥ paṭṭiśaiḥ śūlaiḥ śaktitomudgaraiḥ | śilābhir avavimvidhābhiś ca kārmukaiś ca mahāsvanaiḥ |

Translation

ครั้นนั้นท้องฟ้าทั้งสิ้นก็แน่นขนัดด้วยดาบ ปัฏฏิศะ ตรีศูล หอก โตมร และคทา; ด้วยศิลาที่ถูกขว้างนานาประการ; ด้วยคันธนูที่ส่งเสียงดีดอันน่าหวาดหวั่น; ด้วยอาวุธทิพย์หลากชนิด; ด้วยเปลวเพลิง และด้วยกองทัพแห่งเทวะและอสูร

Word by Word

• असिभिः: with swords
• असिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• ऋष्टिभिः: with spears/lances
• ऋष्टिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋष्टि
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• पट्टिशैः: with battle-axes (pattishas)
• पट्टिशैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पट्टिश
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शूलैः: with tridents/spikes
• शूलैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• शक्तिभिः: with javelins (shaktis)
• शक्तिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• तोमरैः: with tomara-spears
• तोमरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोमर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• मुद्गरैः: with maces/hammers
• मुद्गरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्गर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शिलाभिः: with rocks/stones
• शिलाभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• विविधाभिः: of various kinds
• विविधाभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• कार्मुकैः: with bows
• कार्मुकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्मुक
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• महास्वनैः: with great sound (loud-twangling)
• महास्वनैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महास्वन
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• asi (sword)
• paṭṭiśa
• śūla
• śakti
• tomara
• mudgara
• śilā (rocks)
• kārmuka (bows)
• divya astrāṇi-śastrāṇi (divine weapons)
• agni-jvālāḥ (flames of fire)
• devāḥ (gods)
• asurāḥ (asuras/demons)
• ākāśa (sky)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse primarily heightens the moral and reflective setting of Śānti Parva by portraying the overwhelming, all-consuming scale of violence—suggesting why peace, restraint, and dharma-centered governance become necessary themes after war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes a vast, sky-filling scene of combat: countless weapons, stones, roaring bows, flames, and the assembled armies of gods and asuras, creating a cosmic battlefield atmosphere.