Shloka 21
मृत्यु-काल-प्रबोधनम् (Instruction on Mortality, Time, and Truth) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 169
Devanagari script
आत्मानं पीडयित्वापि सुहृत्कार्यपरायणा: । विरज्यन्ति न मित्रेभ्यो वासो रक्तमिवाविकम्
Transliteration
ātmānaṃ pīḍayitvāpi suhṛt-kārya-parāyaṇāḥ | virajyanti na mitrebhyo vāso raktam ivāvikam ||
Translation
毗湿摩说：即使不得不自苦，凡一心成就友人之利者，也不背离朋友——正如羊毛之布一旦染透，便不失其色。
Word by Word
आत्मानम्oneself
आत्मानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
पीडयित्वाhaving pained/afflicted
पीडयित्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootपीड्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
अपिeven/also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
सुहृत्-कार्य-परायणा:devoted to the business of friends
सुहृत्-कार्य-परायणा::
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootपरायण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
विरज्यन्तिbecome disaffected/turn away
विरज्यन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootवि + रञ्ज्
FormPresent, Indicative, Atmanepada, Third, Plural
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
मित्रेभ्यःfrom friends
मित्रेभ्यः:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootमित्र
FormNeuter, Ablative, Plural
वासःcloth/garment
वासः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवासस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
रक्तम्dyed red
रक्तम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootरक्त
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
इवlike/as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
अविकम्woollen (made of sheep’s wool)
अविकम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootअविक
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhishmaF
friend (suhṛt/mitra)W
woollen cloth (āvikam vāsaḥ)D
dye/color (rakta)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
True friends remain steadfast in loyalty and service to a friend’s good, even at personal cost; genuine attachment to virtuous friendship does not fade easily, like dye that holds fast in wool.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction in the Śānti Parva, he is describing the mark of noble character: unwavering commitment to a friend’s welfare, illustrated through a homely simile of dyed woollen cloth.