Shloka 14

Devanagari script

अयं पितरमाज्ञाय कामार्त शान्तनुं पुरा । ऊर्ध्वरेतसमात्मानं चकार पुरुषर्षभ:,“इन्हीं पुरुषसिंहने पूर्वकालमें अपने पिता शान्तनुको कामासक्त जानकर अपने- आपको ऊउर्ध्वरेता (नैष्ठिक ब्रह्मचारी) बना लिया”

Transliteration

ayaṁ pitaram ājñāya kāmārtaṁ śāntanuṁ purā | ūrdhvaretasam ātmānaṁ cakāra puruṣarṣabhaḥ ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：久远以前，他知晓父亲商多奴为欲火所苦，那位人中雄牛便使自身成为坚守禁欲者——选择终身梵行（brahmacarya）。由此，他将个人欢欲置于孝道之责与更广大达摩之要求之下。

Word by Word

• अयम्: this (man)
• अयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पितरम्: father
• पितरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आज्ञाय: having known/understood
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here), Non-finite

• कामार्तम्: afflicted by desire
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामार्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शान्तनुम्: Śāntanu
• शान्तनुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्तनु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पुरा: formerly/once
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा

• ऊर्ध्वरेतसम्: one of restrained semen; a strict celibate
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्वरेतस्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• चकार: made (became)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पुरुषर्षभः: bull among men; best of men
• पुरुषर्षभः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुषर्षभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Shantanu
• Bhishma (Devavrata)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical self-mastery: a noble person may renounce personal gratification to uphold duty—here, honoring a father’s situation and protecting the larger order (dharma) through disciplined continence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya recalls an earlier episode: Devavrata (later famed as Bhīṣma), seeing King Śāntanu overwhelmed by desire, resolves to become ūrdhvaretas—embracing lifelong celibacy as a decisive vow.