Shloka 10

The Thirteen Inner Adversaries (Trayodaśa Doṣāḥ): Origins and Pacification

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच एवमुक्तस्तत: प्राह शाल्मलि: प्रहसन्निव । पवन त्वं च मे क्रुद्धों दर्शयात्मानमात्मना

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca evam uktas tataḥ prāha śālmalī prahasann iva | pavana tvaṃ ca me kruddho darśayātmānam ātmanā ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: Khi được nói như vậy, Śālmalī đáp lại như thể đang cười: “Hỡi Thần Gió, nếu ngươi giận ta, thì hãy tự bày lộ—hãy phô bày trọn quyền lực của ngươi bằng chính sức mình.”

Word by Word

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्तः: having been spoken to / addressed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Past passive participle (kta), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• प्राह: said, spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+अह्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शाल्मलिः: the Śālmali (silk-cotton) tree
• शाल्मलिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल्मलि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रहसन्: laughing
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+हस्
• Form: Present active participle (śatṛ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: as if, like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• पवन: O Wind (Pavana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: Masculine/Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• मे: of me / my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• क्रुद्धः: angry, enraged
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रुध्
• Form: Past participle (kta/naṣṭa-type adjectival usage), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दर्शय: show (you show)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Imperative, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• आत्मानम्: yourself
• आत्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आत्मना: by yourself, with your own power
• आत्मना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Pavana (Vayu, Wind-god)
• Śālmalī (silk-cotton tree, personified)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how mockery and pride can provoke a display of force, implying an ethical warning: speech should be restrained and humble, because taunting power invites consequences and escalates conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma narrates that after Pavana speaks, Śālmalī responds with a laugh-like, taunting tone, challenging the Wind-god—if he is truly angry, he should reveal himself and demonstrate his full strength.