Shloka 63

Devanagari script

हन्या इति समादेश: शस्त्रपाणौ सुते स्थिते । विनीते प्रसवत्यर्थे विवासे चात्मकर्मसु,अपने आवश्यक कर्म जप-ध्यान आदिके लिये महर्षि गौतमके बाहर चले जानेपर उनका पुत्र चिरकारी यद्यपि हाथमें हथियार लेकर खड़ा था तथापि माताकी रक्षाके लिये वह विनीतभावसे कुछ सोचता-विचारता रहा। इसीलिये माताको मार डालनेका जो आदेश प्राप्त हुआ था, वह पालित न हो सका

Transliteration

hanyā iti samādeśaḥ śastrapāṇau sute sthite | vinīte prasavatyarthe vivāse cātmakarmasu ||

Translation

Wika ni Bhishma: Bagaman ang utos ay, “Patayin siya!”, at ang anak ni Gautama ay nakatayo roon na may sandata sa kamay, hindi siya nagmadaling sumuong sa karahasan. Nang lumabas ang pantas para sa mga kinakailangang gawain gaya ng japa at pagninilay, ang anak—si Chirakārin, na tapat sa kahulugan ng kanyang pangalan—ay nanatiling mapagpigil at mapagnilay, iniisip kung ano ang nararapat sa bagay na iyon. Dahil sa kanyang kababaang-loob at maingat na paghatol, hindi naisakatuparan ang utos na patayin ang kanyang ina, at naligtas ang kanyang buhay.

Word by Word

हन्याshould kill

इतिthus (quoting)

समादेशःcommand, order

शस्त्रपाणौin/when (he) had a weapon in hand; armed

सुतेin the son

स्थितेstanding, stationed

विनीतेbeing humble/obedient; in a disciplined state

प्रसवतिbrings forth, produces

अर्थेin the matter/purpose

विवासेin exile/banishment; in living away

चand

आत्मकर्मसुin one’s own duties/acts

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Maharshi Gautama

Chirakarin (Gautama’s son)

Mother (Gautama’s wife; unnamed here)

Weapon (śastra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when a command to punish seems authoritative, one must pause and examine dharma. Chirakārin’s restraint shows that self-control and moral deliberation can avert irreversible harm; obedience is not higher than righteous discernment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Gautama, leaving for his personal religious duties (such as japa and meditation), has issued an order—‘Kill her.’ His son stands armed but, being disciplined and thoughtful, delays and reflects. Because of this delay and ethical consideration, the mother is not killed.