Shloka 14

Bhīṣma’s Recollection of the Duel: Charioteer’s Fall, Brahmin Protection, and Portents after Rāma’s Collapse

Devanagari script

तत एनं परिष्वज्य सखा विप्रो महातपा: । अकृतदत्रण: शुभैर्वाक्यैराश्वासयदनेकथा,तब उनके महातपस्वी मित्र अकृतब्रणने उन्हें हृदयसे लगाकर सुन्दर वचनोंद्वारा अनेक प्रकारसे आश्वासन दिया

Transliteration

tata enaṁ pariṣvajya sakhā vipro mahātapāḥ | akṛtavraṇaḥ śubhair vākyair āśvāsayad anekathā ||

Translation

Rồi người bạn Bà-la-môn của ông, vị khổ hạnh đại đức tên Akṛtavraṇa, ôm lấy ông và dùng những lời đẹp đẽ, cát tường mà an ủi đủ điều—lấy lời khuyên từ bi để khiến tâm trí ông vững lại.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'tataḥ', 'definition': 'then

• thereafter'}, {'term': 'enaṁ', 'definition': 'him (accusative singular of enam)'}, {'term': 'pariṣvajya', 'definition': 'having embraced

• clasping closely (absolutive of pari-√svaj)'}, {'term': 'sakhā', 'definition': 'friend

• companion'}, {'term': 'vipraḥ', 'definition': 'a Brahmin

• learned priest'}, {'term': 'mahātapāḥ', 'definition': 'of great austerity

• great ascetic'}, {'term': 'akṛtavraṇaḥ', 'definition': "Akṛtavraṇa (proper name

• lit. 'one whose vow is unbroken/undone')"}, {'term': 'śubhaiḥ', 'definition': 'with auspicious, благоприятными (instrumental plural of śubha)'}, {'term': 'vākyaiḥ', 'definition': 'with words

• with utterances (instrumental plural of vākya)'}, {'term': 'āśvāsayat', 'definition': 'he consoled

• he reassured (causative imperfect of ā-√śvas)'}, {'term': 'anekathā', 'definition': 'in many ways

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Akṛtavraṇa (Brahmin friend)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights an ethical ideal: compassion expressed through both action (embrace) and speech (auspicious, steadying words). Consolation is presented as a dharmic response to distress—supporting another’s mind without harshness, and restoring courage through considerate counsel.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates that a great ascetic Brahmin, Akṛtavraṇa, embraces his distressed friend and reassures him repeatedly, using gentle and auspicious speech in many forms to calm and strengthen him.