Shloka 11

शल्मलि–पवनसंवादः

The Dialogue of Śalmali and Pavana

Devanagari script

ततः स देहमोक्षार्थ सम्प्रहषष्टेन चेतसा,अभ्यधावत वर्धन्तं पावकं लुब्धकस्तदा । बहेलिया अपने शरीरका परित्याग करनेके लिये मनमें हर्ष और उल्लास भरकर उस बढ़ती हुई आगकी ओर दौड़ पड़ा

Transliteration

tataḥ sa dehamokṣārthaṃ samprahṛṣṭena cetasā, abhyadhāvat vardhantaṃ pāvakaṃ lubdhakas tadā |

Translation

پھر وہ شکاری جسم سے چھٹکارا پانے کے ارادے سے، خوشی اور سرشاری سے لبریز دل کے ساتھ، بڑھتی ہوئی اس آگ کی طرف دوڑ پڑا۔ یہ منظر ایک سنگدل عزم کو ظاہر کرتا ہے—ضبط یا ندامت کی طرف پلٹنے کے بجائے وہ خود ہلاکت کی راہ اختیار کرتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: avyaya

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• देह: body
• देह: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular (in compound relation)

• मोक्षार्थम्: for the sake of release (abandonment)
• मोक्षार्थम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष + अर्थ
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular (purpose)

• सम्प्रहृष्टेन: with (a) delighted
• सम्प्रहृष्टेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-प्र-हृष् (क्त)
• Form: neuter, instrumental, singular

• चेतसा: mind, consciousness
• चेतसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस्
• Form: neuter, instrumental, singular

• अभ्यधावत: ran towards
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-धाव्
• Form: imperfect (laṅ), parasmaipada, 3rd person, singular

• वर्धन्तम्: growing, increasing
• वर्धन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ध् (शतृ)
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• पावकम्: fire
• पावकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• लुब्धकः: the hunter
• लुब्धकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लुब्धक
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• तदा: at that time
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (तद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: avyaya

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• lubdhaka (hunter)
• pāvaka (fire)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how a mind seized by intense emotion can mistake self-destruction for “release.” In the ethical frame of Śānti Parva, it invites reflection on right resolve (dharma-guided intention) versus impulsive or despair-driven action, and on the need for discernment before irreversible deeds.

What is happening in the narrative?

A hunter, seeking to abandon his body, becomes exhilarated and rushes toward a fire that is spreading. The action is presented as a decisive movement toward bodily death, setting up a moral and psychological moment within Bhīṣma’s discourse.