Shloka 15

Śiśupāla-vadha in the Rājasūya-sabhā (शिशुपालवधः — राजसूयसभायाम्)

Devanagari script

नातिचक्राम भीष्मस्य स हि वाक्यमरिंदम: । समुदवृत्तो घनापाये वेलामिव महोदधि:

Transliteration

nāticakrāma bhīṣmasya sa hi vākyam ariṃdamaḥ | samudavṛtto ghanāpāye velām iva mahodadhiḥ ||

Translation

毗舍波耶那说：那位降伏仇敌者并未逾越毗湿摩的命令；正如雨季将尽之时海潮汹涌，浩瀚大海亦不越其海岸。此喻彰显有纪律的克制——强力被收束在正当权威的界限之内。

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अतिचक्राम: overstepped / transgressed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-क्रम्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, singular, Parasmaipada

• भीष्मस्य: of Bhīṣma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• हि: indeed / for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• वाक्यम्: word / command
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• अरिंदमः: foe-subduer (epithet)
• अरिंदमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरिंदम
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• समुदवृत्तः: swollen / risen up
• समुदवृत्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुद्-वृत्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• घनापाये: at the end of the rainy season (when clouds depart)
• घनापाये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: घनापाय
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• वेलाम्: shore / boundary
• वेलाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेला
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• इव: like / as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• महोदधिः: the great ocean
• महोदधिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोदधि
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīṣma
• the foe-subduer (ariṃdamaḥ)
• ocean (mahodadhi)
• shoreline/boundary (velā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even great strength should remain within rightful boundaries: a powerful person should not violate the command of a legitimate elder/authority, just as the ocean, though swollen, does not cross its shore.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes how the hero addressed as 'ariṃdama' refrains from disobeying Bhīṣma’s instruction; the restraint is illustrated through the image of the ocean staying within its coastline despite seasonal swelling.