Shloka 23

कपोती-विलापः स्वर्गसंयोगश्च

The Dove’s Lament and Celestial Reunion

Devanagari script

पक्षिणो वर्षवेगेन हता लीनास्तदा भवन्‌ । मृगसिंहवराहाश्व स्थलम॒श्रित्य शेरते

Transliteration

pakṣiṇo varṣavegena hatā līnāstadā bhavan | mṛgasiṁhavarāhāśva sthalam āśritya śerate ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：雨势如奔，群鸟被击落，顿时噤声，纷纷藏匿。鹿、狮、野猪与马都依傍高地而卧——当自然的暴烈压倒一切时，强健与迅捷者亦各自寻求庇护。

Word by Word

• पक्षिणः: birds
• पक्षिणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वर्ष-वेगेन: by the force of the rain
• वर्ष-वेगेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष-वेग
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• हताः: struck/overwhelmed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• लीनाः: hidden, taking shelter
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ली
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• अभवन्: became/were
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural

• मृग-सिंह-वराह-अश्वाः: deer, lions, boars, and horses
• मृग-सिंह-वराह-अश्वाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग-सिंह-वराह-अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• स्थलम्: dry ground/high ground
• स्थलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आश्रित्य: having resorted to, taking shelter in
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-श्रि
• Form: Absolutive (Ktva/lyap)

• शेरते: lie down, rest
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Plural, Atmanepada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• भीष्म (Bhīṣma)
• पक्षिणः (birds)
• मृग (deer)
• सिंह (lion)
• वराह (boar)
• अश्व (horse)
• स्थल (higher ground/land)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Adversity levels all beings: when overwhelming forces arise, wisdom lies in seeking appropriate refuge and practicing restraint, not in relying on strength or status.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a violent downpour: birds are battered and hide, while various animals—deer, lions, boars, and horses—move to higher ground and lie there for safety.