Shloka 15

बलीन्द्रसंवादः — Kāla, Anityatā, and the Limits of Agency

Mahābhārata 12.217

Devanagari script

त्रैलोक्यं तपसा व्याप्तमन्तर्भूतेन भास्वता । सूर्यश्च चन्द्रमाश्नैव भासतस्तपसा दिवि

Transliteration

trailokyaṁ tapasā vyāptam antarbhūtena bhāsvatā | sūryaś ca candramāś caiva bhāsatas tapasā divi ||

Translation

Bhishma nói: Ba cõi đều thấm nhuần bởi tapas—ngọn nhiệt lực linh thiêng rực sáng ở bên trong. Trên bầu trời, ngay cả mặt trời và mặt trăng cũng tỏa sáng nhờ sức mạnh của tapas.

Word by Word

• त्रैलोक्यम्: the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैलोक्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• तपसा: by austerity / by heat (tapas)
• तपसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• व्याप्तम्: pervaded
• व्याप्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्याप्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative, Singular, passive/resultative

• अन्तर्भूतेन: by the indwelling / by what has entered within
• अन्तर्भूतेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर्भू
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• भास्वता: by the luminous (one/thing)
• भास्वता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भास्वत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• सूर्यः: the sun
• सूर्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• चन्द्रमाः: the moon
• चन्द्रमाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्रमस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एव: indeed / only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• भासतः: (they two) shine
• Type: Verb
• Root: भास्
• Form: Lat (present), Parasmaipada, Third, Dual

• तपसा: by tapas / by heat
• तपसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• दिवि: in heaven / in the sky
• दिवि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Trailokya (three worlds)
• Tapas
• Surya (Sun)
• Chandra (Moon)
• Dyaus/Div (sky/heaven)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Tapas is portrayed as an indwelling luminous power that pervades and sustains the cosmos; ethical-spiritual discipline is not merely personal effort but a force that supports order, clarity, and rightful living (dharma).

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction, Bhishma explains to Yudhishthira the greatness of tapas, using a cosmic image: the three worlds are filled with it, and even the sun and moon are said to shine through its power.