Shloka 15

Durgātitaraṇa—Conduct for Crossing Difficulties (दुर्गातितरणम्)

Devanagari script

ये च संशान्तरजस: संशान्ततमसश्ष ये । सत्त्वे स्थिता महात्मानो दुर्गाण्यतितरन्ति ते

Transliteration

ye ca saṁśānta-rajasaḥ saṁśānta-tamasaś ca ye | sattve sthitā mahātmāno durgāṇy atitaranti te ||

Translation

بھیشم نے کہا—جن میں رَجَس کی ہیجان انگیزی تھم گئی ہو اور تَمَس کی تاریکی خاموش ہو چکی ہو، جو خالص سَتْو میں قائم ہوں—وہی مہاتما دشوار ترین بحرانوں کو بھی پار کر جاتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• संशान्त-रजसः: whose rajas is calmed
• संशान्त-रजसः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशान्त-रजस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• संशान्त-तमसः: whose tamas is calmed
• संशान्त-तमसः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशान्त-तमस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सत्त्वे: in sattva (purity)
• सत्त्वे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• स्थिताः: situated, abiding
• स्थिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• महात्मानः: great-souled ones
• महात्मानः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• दुर्गाणि: difficult passages; hardships
• दुर्गाणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• अतितरन्ति: cross over, surmount
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-तॄ (धातु)
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When rajas (restless passion) and tamas (deluding inertia) are pacified and one is established in sattva (clarity and purity), a person gains the inner steadiness needed to overcome even severe external difficulties. The verse links ethical-spiritual refinement with practical strength in adversity.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma is advising on dharma and the cultivation of inner qualities. Here he highlights the transformative effect of mastering the guṇas: the sattvic, purified-minded ‘mahātmā’ can cross formidable dangers that would overwhelm an unsteady mind.