Shloka 12

Bhīṣma on the Śara-Śayyā: Yudhiṣṭhira and Kṛṣṇa Approach the Eldest for Śānti

Devanagari script

ततो निशाम्य गाड़ेयं शाम्यमानमिवानलम्‌ । किंचिद्‌ दीनमना भीष्ममिति होवाच केशव:

Transliteration

tato niśāmya gāḍeyaṃ śāmyamānam ivānalam | kiṃcid dīna-manā bhīṣmam iti hovāca keśavaḥ ||

Translation

Bấy giờ, quan sát Bhīṣma—người con của sông Hằng—tinh thần có phần u uất, trông như ngọn lửa đang tàn, Keśava (Kṛṣṇa) liền cất lời với ngài như sau. Lời ấy mở đầu cho sự khuyên răn nhằm làm vững tâm trí và đánh thức lại nghị lực trên con đường dharma.

Word by Word

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

• निशाम्य: having observed/seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-शम् (निशामयति)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• गाङ्गेयम्: Gāṅgeya (Bhīṣma), son of Gaṅgā
• गाङ्गेयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाङ्गेय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शाम्यमानम्: being pacified/being extinguished
• Type: Verb
• Root: शम् (शाम्यति)
• Form: शतृ (present passive participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular, Passive

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

• अनलम्: fire
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• किञ्चित्: somewhat, a little
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित्

• दीनमनाः: downcast-minded, dejected at heart
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन-मनस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीष्मम्: Bhīṣma
• भीष्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इति: thus (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• ह: indeed (emphatic particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह

• उवाच: said, spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• केशवः: Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)
• केशवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīṣma
• Keśava (Kṛṣṇa)
• Gāṅgā

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical moment: when a wise elder’s inner strength wanes, compassionate and dharma-oriented counsel is timely. It highlights attentiveness to another’s mental state and the duty to restore clarity and resolve before instruction on dharma proceeds.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Kṛṣṇa notices Bhīṣma looking dejected, likened to a fire that is dying down, and then begins to speak to him—introducing the forthcoming dialogue and guidance in the Śānti Parva.