Shloka 231

Devanagari script

रक्षाविधानं मनसा स संचिन्त्य महातपा:

Transliteration

rakṣāvidhānaṃ manasā sa sañcintya mahātapāḥ

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: Sau khi cân nhắc trong tâm trí về phương cách bảo hộ đúng đắn, bậc đại khổ hạnh ấy liền hành động một cách thận trọng—cho thấy việc che chở người khác phải được dẫn dắt bởi suy xét, kỷ luật và ý hướng chính trực, chứ không bởi bốc đồng.

Word by Word

• रक्षाविधानम्: arrangement/procedure of protection
• रक्षाविधानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा-विधान
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• संचिन्त्य: having reflected/considered
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-चिन्त्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• महातपाः: the great ascetic (of great austerity)
• महातपाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महातपस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Protection (rakṣā) should be planned with thoughtful deliberation (sañcintya manasā) and grounded in disciplined, dharmic intent—implying that ethical safeguarding requires foresight and self-restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes a figure characterized as a great ascetic (mahātapāḥ) who first reflects on the appropriate protective arrangement (rakṣāvidhāna) before acting, emphasizing careful planning in matters of security and duty.