Shloka 37

आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः

Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca

Devanagari script

गतं मां सहसा भूमिं नकुलो भक्षयिष्यति

Transliteration

gataṁ māṁ sahasā bhūmiṁ nakulo bhakṣayiṣyati

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“待我一去，大地将迅速被‘那俱罗’吞噬。”就其语境而言，此句是忧惧的警诫：当维系秩序、守护法（dharma）的长者离去，失去约束的冲动——此处以具名之者为象征——便可能迅疾引发国土的紊乱与祸害。

Word by Word

• गतं: gone (having gone)
• गतं: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (गत-)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• सहसा: suddenly, hastily
• सहसा: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा

• भूमिम्: to the ground / on the ground
• भूमिम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• नकुलः: Nakula
• नकुलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भक्षयिष्यति: will eat/devour
• भक्षयिष्यति: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Nakula
• bhūmi (earth/realm)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse warns that when a restraining, dharma-aligned authority disappears, the realm can quickly fall prey to destructive forces; stability in governance requires continuity, self-control, and safeguards against sudden disorder.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma, speaking in the Śānti Parva’s instruction-setting, utters a foreboding remark that after his departure the earth/kingdom will be rapidly ‘devoured’ by Nakula—framing a concern about what follows once he is no longer present to steady events.