Shloka 14

Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa

The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa

Devanagari script

न जह्ाच्च तनुत्राणं रक्षेदात्मानमात्मना | चारभूमिष्वभिगतान्‌ पाशांश्व परिवर्जयेत्‌

Transliteration

na jahyāc ca tanutrāṇaṁ rakṣed ātmānam ātmanā | cārabhūmiṣv abhigatān pāśāṁś ca parivarjayet |

Translation

毗湿摩说：“切莫卸下护身甲胄；当以自身警觉护持自身。凡行走往来之处——道路、渡口、巡行之地——都要察觉并避开敌人所设的罗网与陷阱。”

Word by Word

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

• जह्यात्: should abandon
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (जहाति)
• Form: Vidhi-linga, optative, 3, singular, Parasmaipada

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

• तनुत्राणम्: body-armor, protective covering
• तनुत्राणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनुत्राण
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• रक्षेत्: should protect
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: Vidhi-linga, optative, 3, singular, Parasmaipada

• आत्मानम्: oneself
• आत्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• आत्मना: by oneself
• आत्मना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• चारभूमिषु: in places of movement/roaming (routes, grounds)
• चारभूमिषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चारभूमि
• Form: feminine, locative, plural

• अभिगतान्: reached/encountered
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-गम् (गत)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), masculine, accusative, plural

• पाशान्: snares, nooses, traps
• पाशान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

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

• परिवर्जयेत्: should avoid/remove
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-वृज्
• Form: Vidhi-linga, optative, 3, singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• armour (tanutrāṇa)
• snares/traps (pāśa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Maintain constant preparedness and personal vigilance: do not discard one’s means of protection, and actively avoid enemy snares encountered in public routes and roaming grounds.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma and practical conduct, Bhīṣma advises the listener on personal security—stressing readiness (keeping armour) and caution against traps laid by adversaries in places one must travel.