Shloka 18

Saṃhāra-krama (The Sequence of Cosmic Dissolution) — Yājñavalkya’s Discourse

Devanagari script

कर्मजैर्बन्धनैर्बद्धास्तद्वद्‌ योगा: परंतप । अबला वै विनश्यन्ति मुच्यन्ते च बलान्विता:

Transliteration

karmajair bandhanair baddhās tadvad yogāḥ parantapa | abalā vai vinaśyanti mucyante ca balānvitāḥ ||

Translation

Wika ni Bhishma: “O tagasunog ng mga kaaway, yaong mga nabibigkis ng mga tanikalang isinilang ng sarili nilang gawa (karma) ay, sa gayon ding paraan, nasasaklaw rin ng kanilang mga pagsasanay (yoga). Ang mahihina ay tunay na napapahamak, ngunit ang may lakas ay napapalaya.”

Word by Word

• कर्मजैः: by those born of action (karmic)
• कर्मजैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्मज
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• बन्धनैः: by bonds, fetters
• बन्धनैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धन
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• बद्धाः: bound
• बद्धाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तद्वत्: likewise, in the same way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत्

• योगाः: yogins / practitioners of yoga
• योगाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• परंतप: O scorcher of foes (address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परंतप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अबलाः: the weak (ones)
• अबलाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• विनश्यन्ति: perish, are ruined
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• मुच्यन्ते: are released, are freed
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Atmanepada, Passive

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

• बलान्विताः: endowed with strength
• बलान्विताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलान्वित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Parantapa (epithet of Yudhiṣṭhira)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bondage arises from karma, and even spiritual disciplines can feel like constraints; only those with inner strength—steadfastness, self-control, and resilience—can use discipline to transcend bondage and attain freedom, while the weak succumb to ruin.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and liberation. Here he contrasts weakness and strength in the context of karmic bondage and yogic practice, emphasizing that liberation requires sustained inner power rather than mere intention.