Shloka 17

Nārada–Vāyu–Śalmali Upākhyāna: Enmity with the Strong and the Primacy of Buddhi (नारद-वायु-शल्मलि उपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

इमं लोकं विमुच्य त्वमवाड्मूर्द्धां पतिष्यसि । अशाश्षती: शाशक्षृती क्ष समा: पापेन कर्मणा,“इस लोकको छोड़नेके बाद तू अपने पापकर्मके फलस्वरूप अनन्त वर्षोतक नीचा सिर किये नरकमें पड़ा रहेगा

Transliteration

imaṁ lokaṁ vimucya tvam avāṅmūrdhā patiṣyasi | aśāśvatīḥ śāśvatīś ca samāḥ pāpena karmaṇā ||

Translation

Wika ni Bhishma: “Pagkaalis mo sa mundong ito, mahuhulog ka sa impiyerno na nakayuko ang ulo. Bilang bunga ng iyong mga kasalanang gawa, mananatili ka roon sa loob ng maraming taon—may mga taong tila mabilis lumipas at may mga taong wari’y walang hanggan—dinadala ang bigat ng sarili mong karma.”

Word by Word

इमम्this

लोकम्world

विमुच्यhaving left/abandoned

त्वम्you

अवाक्-मूर्धानम्with head bent down (head-down)

पतिष्यसिyou will fall

अशाश्वतीःnon-eternal (many years/periods)

शाश्वतीःeternal/lasting (many years/periods)

समाःyears

पापेनby sinful (means/through sin)

कर्मणाby deed/action

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma underscores karmic accountability: wrongful actions do not end with worldly life; they mature into consequences that can include prolonged suffering in hell. The verse functions as a deterrent and a moral reminder that ethical conduct (dharma) safeguards one’s future state.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva’s instructional setting, Bhishma is warning an addressed person (not named in this single verse) about the post-mortem result of sinful conduct. The imagery of falling head-down into hell intensifies the admonition and frames the discourse as moral counsel on consequences.