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Shloka 9

Gautama–Yama Saṃvāda: Mātṛ-Pitṛ-Ṛṇa (Debt to Parents) and Śubha-Loka Attainment

बलेन महता गुप्त: सामात्य: सावरोधन: । मृगस्तु विद्धो बाणेन मया सरति शल्यवान्‌

balena mahatā guptaḥ sāmātyaḥ sāvarodhanaḥ | mṛgas tu viddho bāṇena mayā sarati śalyavān ||

Bhishma nói: “Ta được một lực lượng lớn hộ vệ, đang đi cùng các đại thần và cả nội cung. Thế nhưng một con nai bị ta bắn trúng lại chạy thoát khỏi đây, vẫn mang mũi tên cắm trong thân.”

बलेनby (means of) strength/force
बलेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootबल
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
महताgreat
महता:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
गुप्तःprotected/guarded
गुप्तः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootगुप्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सामात्यःtogether with ministers
सामात्यः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसामात्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सावरोधनःtogether with the inner apartments/retinue (women’s quarters)
सावरोधनः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसावरोधन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
मृगःdeer
मृगः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमृग
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तुbut/however
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
विद्धःpierced/wounded
विद्धः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootविद्ध
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
बाणेनby an arrow
बाणेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootबाण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
मयाby me
मया:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
Form—, Instrumental, Singular
सरतिruns/moves/escapes
सरति:
TypeVerb
Rootसृ
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
शल्यवान्having a dart/arrow embedded; with the shaft in him
शल्यवान्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootशल्यवत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
A
army/force (bala)
M
ministers (amātya)
I
inner apartments/antahpura (avarodhana)
D
deer (mṛga)
A
arrow (bāṇa)

Educational Q&A

Even when surrounded by power and protection, one remains accountable for the harm one causes; the image of the wounded deer fleeing with the arrow underscores the ethical weight of violence and its lingering consequences.

Bhishma recounts traveling with a large armed escort, accompanied by ministers and the inner household, when a deer he had shot escapes, still carrying the arrow—setting up the circumstances for what follows in the episode.