Shloka 12

Kāpavya-carita (कापव्यचरित) — Reforming Dasyus through Regulated Rāja-Dharma

Devanagari script

न वाच्य: परिवादो<यं न श्रोतव्य:ः कथड्चन । कर्णावथ पिधातव्यौ प्रस्थेयं चान्यतो भवेत्‌

Transliteration

na vācyaḥ parivādo ’yaṃ na śrotavyaḥ kathaṃcana | karṇāv atha pidhātavyau prasthēyaṃ cānyato bhavet ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“此类诽谤之言，既不当出口，也不当以任何方式聆听。若有人正在毁谤他人，当掩耳不闻——否则便起身离席，另往他处。”

Word by Word

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

• वाच्यः: to be spoken / should be said
• वाच्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाच्य
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• परिवादः: slander, backbiting
• परिवादः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिवाद
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

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

• श्रोतव्यः: to be heard / should be listened to
• श्रोतव्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रोतव्य
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• कथंचन: in any way, at all
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथंचन

• कर्णौ: two ears
• कर्णौ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: masculine, accusative, dual

• अथ: then / or else
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• पिधातव्यौ: to be closed (should be shut)
• पिधातव्यौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिधातव्य
• Form: masculine, nominative, dual

• प्रस्थेयम्: one should depart / should go away
• प्रस्थेयम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रस्थेय
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

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

• अन्यतः: elsewhere, to another place
• अन्यतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यतः

• भवेत्: should be / should become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: optative, 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

One should practice restraint in speech and hearing: do not engage in slander, do not entertain it by listening, and if it arises, actively avoid it by closing the ears or leaving.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and proper conduct, Bhīṣma advises the listener on ethical behavior, specifically how to respond when others indulge in backbiting.