Shloka 10

कपोत-लुब्धकसंवादः — Hunter’s Remorse and Renunciatory Resolve

Devanagari script

अभिशथ्याज्ञानिन: केचिन्मिथ्याविज्ञानिन: परे | तद्बै यथायथं बुद्ध्वा ज्ञाममाददते सताम्‌

Transliteration

abhiśathyājñāninaḥ kecin mithyāvijñāninaḥ pare | tad vai yathāyathaṃ buddhvā jñānam ādadate satām ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：有人确为真智者，有人却只具虚妄之知的外相。国王当如实辨明此差别，并按其分寸取舍，只应采纳并遵循善人之智——那些具备对真理真实洞见的人。

Word by Word

• अभिशथ्य: having cursed/abused
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभिशथ्य (अभि-शथ्य, कृदन्त; √शथ्/शप्-भावार्थे)
• Form: अव्यय (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थे; ‘अभिशप्य/अभिशथ्य’ = having cursed/abused)

• अज्ञानिनः: the ignorant (persons)
• अज्ञानिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञानिन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: क-चित् (कश्चित्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

• मिथ्या: falsely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथ्या
• Form: अव्यय

• विज्ञानिनः: those who think they know / (so-called) knowers
• विज्ञानिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्ञानिन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

• परे: others
• परे: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: पर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

• तत्: that (fact)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै
• Form: अव्यय (निश्चयार्थे)

• यथा-यथम्: properly; as it truly is
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (पुनरुक्त-अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (पुनरुक्ति; ‘as it really is / properly’)

• बुद्ध्वा: having understood
• Type: Verb
• Root: √बुध्
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); ‘having understood’

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• आददते: they take/accept
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (आ-√दा)
• Form: लट्; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सताम्: of the good/virtuous
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; बहुवचन

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• the king (rājā, implied)
• the virtuous (sat)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must practice discernment: not all who appear learned are truly wise. After carefully distinguishing genuine insight from false or misleading learning, he should adopt only the counsel and knowledge of the virtuous and truth-grounded.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva, Bhishma continues instructing Yudhishthira on righteous governance and conduct. Here he emphasizes evaluating advisers and teachings, warning that some are ignorant or falsely knowledgeable, and urging the king to rely on the wisdom of the truly good.