Shloka 34

Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā

Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative

Devanagari script

न संशयमनारुहा[ नरो भद्राणि पश्यति । संशयं पुनरारुह्य यदि जीवति पश्यति

Transliteration

na saṁśayam anāruhya naro bhadrāṇi paśyati | saṁśayaṁ punar āruhya yadi jīvati paśyati ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: “Không bước lên nền đất của hiểm nguy và ngờ vực, con người chẳng thể thấy điều thật sự cát tường. Nhưng nếu đã vào cơn nguy kịch đến mức sinh tử mà còn sống trở về, thì người ấy sẽ nhận ra cái lợi của chính mình—điều đáng giữ gìn.”

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• संशयम्: doubt; peril/uncertainty
• संशयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अनारुह्य: without mounting/entering (i.e., without undergoing)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुह्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), अन्

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भद्राणि: good things; welfare/benefits
• भद्राणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• पश्यति: sees
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Present (Lat), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• संशयम्: doubt; peril/uncertainty
• संशयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• आरुह्य: having mounted/entered (having undergone)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुह्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

• जीवति: lives; survives
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव्
• Form: Present (Lat), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पश्यति: sees
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Present (Lat), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Welfare and true good are often recognized only after one has faced real danger and uncertainty; surviving a crisis clarifies values and reveals what is genuinely beneficial.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction, Bhishma offers a reflective maxim: hardship—especially a life-threatening predicament—functions as a proving ground that enables a person to perceive and appreciate what is truly good.