Shloka 14

आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः

Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca

Devanagari script

तस्माद्‌ विश्वसितव्यं च विग्रहं च समाचरेत्‌ । देशं कालं॑ च विज्ञाय कार्याकार्यविनिश्षये,अतः देश-कालको समझकर कर्तव्य-अकर्तव्यका निश्चय करके किसीपर विश्वास और किसीके साथ युद्ध करना चाहिये

Transliteration

tasmād viśvasitavyaṃ ca vigrahaṃ ca samācaret | deśaṃ kālaṃ ca vijñāya kāryākārya-viniścaye ||

Translation

Kaya nararapat malaman kung kailan dapat magtiwala at kung kailan dapat pumasok sa tunggalian. Kapag naunawaan ang lugar at ang panahon, dapat pagpasiyahan kung alin ang dapat gawin at alin ang hindi; at ayon doon, dapat alinman sa umasa sa iba o sumalungat sa kanila, gaya ng hinihingi ng kalagayan.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, ablative, singular

• विश्वसितव्यम्: should be trusted / one should trust
• विश्वसितव्यम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश्वस् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत् (gerundive/obligative), neuter, nominative/accusative, singular, passive sense (ought to be)

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

• विग्रहम्: conflict/war
• विग्रहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विग्रह
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

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

• समाचरेत्: should undertake/practise
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर्
• Form: vidhi-linga (optative), present-system, 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

• देशम्: place/country
• देशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• कालम्: time
• कालम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

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

• विज्ञाय: having ascertained/knowing
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), active sense, true

• कार्याकार्यविनिश्चये: in the determination of what should/should not be done
• कार्याकार्यविनिश्चये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य-अकार्य-विनिश्चय
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma teaches contextual ethics: decisions about trusting others or engaging in conflict should be made only after judging deśa (place/circumstances) and kāla (time/occasion), and clearly discerning kārya (right action) versus akārya (wrong action).

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on conduct and governance, Bhishma is laying down a practical rule for rulers and householders alike: do not act from impulse—first assess circumstances, then decide whether conciliation/trust or opposition/war best serves dharma and the intended goal.