Shloka 10

Kṣemadarśa–Kālakavṛkṣīya Saṃvāda: Counsel on Impermanence, Non-attachment, and Composure in Dispossession

Devanagari script

इमामवस्थां सम्प्राप्तं दीनमार्त श्रिया च्युतम्‌ । यदन्यत्‌ सुखमस्तीह तद्‌ ब्रह्मन्ननुशाधि माम्‌

Transliteration

imām avasthāṁ samprāptaṁ dīnam ārtaṁ śriyā cyutam | yad anyat sukham astīha tad brahmann anuśādhi mām ||

Translation

婆罗门啊！我已堕入这般可悲境地——失却王者的荣华，困顿而受苦。在这世间，若有不依财富而得的幸福，请开示于我。

Word by Word

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अवस्थाम्: condition/state
• अवस्थाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवस्था
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• सम्प्राप्तम्: having reached/come to
• सम्प्राप्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-आप् (सम्प्राप्)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दीनम्: wretched, poor
• दीनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आर्तम्: distressed, afflicted
• आर्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• श्रिया: by fortune/splendour (royal prosperity)
• श्रिया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• च्युतम्: fallen from, deprived of
• च्युतम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: च्यु (च्यव्)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• यत्: whatever/that which
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• अन्यत्: other, different
• अन्यत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• सुखम्: happiness, comfort
• सुखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular

• इह: here, in this world
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अनुशाधि: instruct/teach
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-शास्
• Form: Imperative (Lot), 2nd, Singular

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Brahmin (addressed teacher)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical inquiry: when prosperity and status collapse, one must ask what enduring happiness remains beyond wealth. It sets up instruction on inner goods—dharma, self-control, contentment, and spiritual insight—as sources of well-being not dependent on external fortune.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma, speaking to a Brahmin teacher, describes his fallen, distressed condition—stripped of royal prosperity—and requests guidance about any happiness available in the world apart from material wealth.