Shloka 17

Durgātitaraṇa—Conduct for Crossing Difficulties (दुर्गातितरणम्)

Devanagari script

परश्रिया न तप्यन्ति ये सन्त: पुरुषर्षभा: । ग्राम्यादर्थ न्निवृत्ताश्व दुर्गण्यतितरन्ति ते

Transliteration

paraśriyā na tapyanti ye santaḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ | grāmyād arthān nivṛttāś ca durgāṇy atitaranti te ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：那些善良而高贵的雄杰，不因他人的兴盛而嫉妒灼心。远离粗鄙的乡俗追逐与微薄小利，凭自制与德行之力，他们也能越过艰难的关隘——严酷的考验与险狭的危途。

Word by Word

• परश्रिया: by another's prosperity/splendour
• परश्रिया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर-श्री
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

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

• तप्यन्ति: they are pained / they burn (with envy)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• ये: who
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सन्तः: good, virtuous (people)
• सन्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पुरुषर्षभाः: bulls among men, best of men
• पुरुषर्षभाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष-ऋषभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ग्राम्यात्: from vulgar/worldly (things)
• ग्राम्यात्: Apadana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्राम्य
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• अर्थात्: from gain/wealth
• अर्थात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• निवृत्ताः: turned away, refraining
• निवृत्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-√वृत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• दुर्गाणि: difficulties, hardships
• दुर्गाणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• अतितरन्ति: they cross over, overcome
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-√तॄ
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The virtuous do not envy others’ success; by withdrawing from coarse, petty worldly pursuits and cultivating restraint, they can overcome even severe hardships.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma continues advising on ethical conduct, praising the character of the good—especially their freedom from envy and their ability to endure and transcend difficulties.