Shloka 23

कपोती-विलापः स्वर्गसंयोगश्च

The Dove’s Lament and Celestial Reunion

Devanagari script

पक्षिणो वर्षवेगेन हता लीनास्तदा भवन्‌ । मृगसिंहवराहाश्व स्थलम॒श्रित्य शेरते

Transliteration

pakṣiṇo varṣavegena hatā līnāstadā bhavan | mṛgasiṁhavarāhāśva sthalam āśritya śerate ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: Bị sức mưa dồn dập quật xuống, bầy chim bị đánh gục, lặng im rồi ẩn mình. Nai, sư tử, lợn rừng và ngựa nương tựa nơi đất cao mà nằm đó—mỗi loài đều tìm chỗ an toàn khi cơn cuồng nộ của thiên nhiên trùm phủ.

Word by Word

• पक्षिणः: birds
• पक्षिणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वर्ष-वेगेन: by the force of the rain
• वर्ष-वेगेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष-वेग
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• हताः: struck/overwhelmed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• लीनाः: hidden, taking shelter
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ली
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• अभवन्: became/were
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural

• मृग-सिंह-वराह-अश्वाः: deer, lions, boars, and horses
• मृग-सिंह-वराह-अश्वाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग-सिंह-वराह-अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• स्थलम्: dry ground/high ground
• स्थलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आश्रित्य: having resorted to, taking shelter in
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-श्रि
• Form: Absolutive (Ktva/lyap)

• शेरते: lie down, rest
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Plural, Atmanepada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• भीष्म (Bhīṣma)
• पक्षिणः (birds)
• मृग (deer)
• सिंह (lion)
• वराह (boar)
• अश्व (horse)
• स्थल (higher ground/land)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Adversity levels all beings: when overwhelming forces arise, wisdom lies in seeking appropriate refuge and practicing restraint, not in relying on strength or status.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a violent downpour: birds are battered and hide, while various animals—deer, lions, boars, and horses—move to higher ground and lie there for safety.