Shloka 14

आशा-कृशता उपाख्यानम्

The Episode on the Emaciation Caused by Hope

Devanagari script

स तु कामान्मृगो राजन्नासाद्यासाद्य तं नृपम्‌ । पुनरभ्येति जवनो जवेन महता ततः

Transliteration

sa tu kāmān mṛgo rājann āsādya-āsādya taṃ nṛpam | punar abhyeti javano javena mahatā tataḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“然而那鹿被自身欲念所驱，一次又一次靠近那位国王，又随即退去；它天性迅捷，旋即又会折返，以极快的速度再度奔来。”

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• कामात्: from desire; out of desire
• कामात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• मृगः: the deer
• मृगः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

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

• आसाद्य: having reached/approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√सद्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• असाद्य: having reached/approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√सद्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• तम्: that (him)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• नृपम्: the king
• नृपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• अभ्येति: comes near/approaches
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√इ
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• जवनः: swift (one)
• जवनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जवन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जवेन: with speed
• जवेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• महता: great; very (with great ...)
• महता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• ततः: then/thereupon; from there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• the king (nṛpa/rājan)
• deer (mṛga)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Desire makes beings act in repetitive, restless patterns—approaching what attracts them and then fleeing—illustrating how kāma can disturb steadiness and judgment; the implied ethical lesson is the need for restraint and clarity, especially for rulers.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes a deer that, compelled by desire, repeatedly comes close to a king and then darts away, returning again with great speed—an image of impulsive attraction and quick retreat.