Shloka 49

Devanagari script

यथा सर्वाणि भूतानि मृत्योर्भीतानि मारिष । धर्ममेवोपलीयन्ते कर्मवन्ति हि यानि च

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

yathā sarvāṇi bhūtāni mṛtyor bhītāni māriṣa |

dharmam evopalīyante karmavanti hi yāni ca ||

Translation

سنجے نے کہا—اے معزز بادشاہ! جیسے عمل کرنے والے تمام جاندار موت کے خوف سے دھرم ہی کی پناہ لیتے ہیں، ویسے ہی تمہارے بیٹے بلندہمت پارتھ ارجن کے ڈر سے عظیم کماندار کرنا ہی کی اوٹ میں چھپ کر اسی کو سہارا بنانے لگے۔

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• भूतानि: beings, creatures
• भूतानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• मृत्योः: from death
• मृत्योः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• भीतानि: afraid
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• मारिष: O venerable one (sir)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारिष
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• धर्मम्: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• एव: indeed, only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• उपलीयन्ते: take refuge in, resort to
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-ली
• Form: Present, Indicative, Atmanepada, Third, Plural

• कर्मवन्ति: endowed with action; active
• कर्मवन्ति: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्मवत्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• हि: for, indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• यानि: which
• यानि: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

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

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied addressee: māriṣa)
• Mṛtyu (Death, personified concept)
• Dharma
• Arjuna
• Karṇa
• Kauravas (implied: 'your sons')
• Pāṇḍavas (implied via Arjuna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses a moral analogy: as beings instinctively seek Dharma when threatened by Death, warriors likewise seek a righteous or powerful refuge when overwhelmed by fear. It highlights how fear drives the search for protection, and frames ‘taking shelter’ as a universal response—ethically pointing to Dharma as the highest refuge.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava forces, intimidated by Arjuna’s prowess, began to cluster behind Karṇa for protection—treating Karṇa as their shield against Arjuna’s onslaught.