Shloka 14

Śvetadvīpa-varṇana and Śāstra-pravartana (Śānti Parva 322)

Devanagari script

आत्मना विदहितं दुःखमात्मना विहितं सुखम्‌ | गर्भशय्यामुपादाय भुज्यते पौर्वदेहिकम्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | ātmanā vidhitaṃ duḥkham ātmanā vihitaṃ sukham | garbhaśayyām upādāya bhujyate paurvadehikam ||

Translation

Wika ni Bhishma: Ang dalamhati ay hinuhubog ng sariling pagkatao, at ang ligaya man ay itinatalaga rin ng sarili. Sa sandaling ang nilalang na may katawan ay humimlay sa higaan ng sinapupunan, nagsisimula na itong danasin ang bungang natipon ng dating katawan—ang mga gawa noon na nahihinog bilang saya at sakit.

Word by Word

• आत्मना: by oneself
• आत्मना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• विदहितम्: ordained/produced
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-धा (धातु) → विदहित (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• आत्मना: by oneself
• आत्मना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• विहितम्: ordained/produced
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-धा (धातु) → विहित (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• गर्भशय्याम्: the womb-bed (uterine couch)
• गर्भशय्याम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भशय्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• उपादाय: having taken/obtained (having entered upon)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप-आ-दा (धातु) → उपादाय (क्त्वान्त अव्यय)
• Form: Gerund (ktvā/lyap), Parasmaipada (usage)

• भुज्यते: is experienced/enjoyed
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज्
• Form: Lat, Present, Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Passive (karmani-prayoga)

• पौर्वदेहिकम्: belonging to the former body (from a previous embodiment)
• पौर्वदेहिकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौर्वदेहिक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Atman (self)
• Garbha (womb)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That both suffering and happiness arise from one’s own actions: the self is the maker of its experience, and the results of past deeds (even from a previous embodiment) inevitably mature and are undergone.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right understanding, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira about karma and rebirth: the jīva, upon entering the womb, begins to experience the accumulated fruits of prior-life actions as pleasure and pain.