Shloka 53

आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः

Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca

Devanagari script

मयाप्युपायो दृष्टोडयं विचार्य मतिमात्मन: । आत्मार्थ च त्वदर्थ च श्रेयः साधारणं हि नौ

Transliteration

mayāpy upāyo dṛṣṭo ’yaṃ vicārya matim ātmanaḥ | ātmārthaṃ ca tvadarthaṃ ca śreyaḥ sādhāraṇaṃ hi nau ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“我以自身之智细加思量，也已寻得一条行策——既为我利，亦为汝利。因为它所带来的福祉并非偏于一方，而是我与你共同之善。”

Word by Word

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Instrumental, Singular

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• उपायः: means; plan; expedient
• उपायः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दृष्टः: seen; found
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अयम्: this
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विचार्य: having reflected; having considered
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चर्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund)

• मतिम्: thought; intention; understanding
• मतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आत्मनः: of oneself; of my own
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• आत्मार्थम्: for one’s own sake
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• त्वदर्थम्: for your sake
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् + अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• श्रेयः: the good; welfare; what is best
• 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 (dual)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Dual

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Deliberation (vicāra) should aim at śreyas—true welfare—and the best counsel is that which is ethically sound and mutually beneficial rather than narrowly self-serving.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma, in his role as elder teacher, tells the listener that he has thoughtfully arrived at a practical solution intended to secure the good of both parties, framing his guidance as shared welfare.