Shloka 22

उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel

Devanagari script

संकल्पनियमोपेत: फलाहारो जितेन्द्रिय: । नित्यं संनिहिताभिस्तु ओषधीभि: फलैस्तथा

Transliteration

saṅkalpaniyamopetaḥ phalāhāro jitendriyaḥ | nityaṃ saṃnihitābhis tu oṣadhībhiḥ phalais tathā

Translation

پختہ عزم اور ضابطۂ ریاضت سے آراستہ، پھلوں پر گزارہ کرنے والا اور حواس پر قابو پانے والا وہ ہمیشہ دوا دار جڑی بوٹیوں اور پھلوں سے بہرہ مند رہتا تھا۔

Word by Word

• संकल्पनियमोपेतः: endowed with resolve and restraints
• संकल्पनियमोपेतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संकल्प-नियम-उपेत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• फलाहारः: one whose food is fruit; fruit-eater
• फलाहारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल-आहार
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जितेन्द्रियः: having conquered the senses; self-controlled
• जितेन्द्रियः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित-इन्द्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• संनिहिताभिः: by/with (things) kept ready/placed near
• संनिहिताभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संनिहित
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• ओषधीभिः: with herbs/medicinal plants
• ओषधीभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओषधि
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• फलैः: with fruits
• फलैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• तथा: likewise/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• oṣadhī (medicinal herbs)
• phala (fruits)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ascetic ethics: steadfast resolve (saṅkalpa), disciplined observance (niyama), restraint of the senses (jitendriyatā), and simple sustenance (phalāhāra) as marks of a dharmic life.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes a person (contextually an ascetic or disciplined practitioner) who lives on fruits, maintains strict self-control, and keeps medicinal herbs and fruits close at hand for regular sustenance and well-being.