Shloka 50

आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः

Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca

Devanagari script

सौहदेनाभि भाषे त्वां कच्चिन्मार्जार जीवसि । जीवितं हि तवेच्छामि श्रेय: साधारणं हि नौ

Transliteration

sauhadenābhi bhāṣe tvāṁ kaccin mārjāra jīvasi | jīvitaṁ hi tavēcchāmi śreyaḥ sādhāraṇaṁ hi nau ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“我以友善之心与你言，猫啊——你还活着么？我确愿你得以保全性命，因为你能继续活着，于我与你二者皆有共同之利。”

Word by Word

• सौहदेन: with friendliness / by goodwill
• सौहदेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौहद
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अभिभाषे: I address / I speak to
• अभिभाषे: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-भाष्
• Form: Present, First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Accusative, Singular

• कच्चित्: surely? / I hope (that)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित्

• मार्जार: O cat
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जार
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• जीवसि: you live / are you alive
• जीवसि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव्
• Form: Present, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• जीवितम्: life
• जीवितम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• हि: indeed / for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• तव: of you / your
• तव: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• इच्छामि: I desire / I wish
• इच्छामि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Present, First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• श्रेयः: welfare / good
• श्रेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• साधारणम्: common / shared
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधारण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• हि: indeed / for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• नौ: of us two / our (both)
• नौ: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Dual

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• mārjāra (cat)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames ethical speech and action through sauharda (goodwill): one should wish for another’s safety and life, recognizing that genuine welfare (śreyas) can be shared rather than competitive.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma addresses a cat directly, speaking in a friendly tone and checking whether it is alive, while stating that he desires its continued life because that outcome benefits both parties.