Shloka 11
Prahlāda–Indra Saṃvāda: Kartṛtva (Agency) and Svabhāva (Nature) in the Causation of Karma
Devanagari script
कल्कापेतामपरुषामनृशंसामपैशुनाम् । ईदृगल्पं च वक्तव्यमविक्षिप्तेन चेतसा
Transliteration
kalkāpetām aparuṣām anṛśaṃsām apaiśunām | īdṛg-alpaṃ ca vaktavyam avikṣiptena cetasā ||
Translation
毗湿摩说道：“当说清净之语，不粗厉，不残酷，不为诽谤所染。即便如此之言，也当少说，并以心不散乱、安定不动而说——尤其是那能见法之微细、愿言真实利益者。”
Word by Word
कल्कापेताम्free from impurity/sin
कल्कापेताम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootकल्क-अपेत
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
अपरुषाम्not harsh
अपरुषाम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअ-परुष
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
अनृशंसाम्not cruel; compassionate
अनृशंसाम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअ-नृशंस
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
अपैशुनाम्free from slander/backbiting
अपैशुनाम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअ-पैशुन
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
ईदृक्such (of this kind)
ईदृक्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootईदृश्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अल्पम्little; limited
अल्पम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअल्प
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
वक्तव्यम्should be spoken
वक्तव्यम्:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
Formतव्यत्, Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular, Obligative (gerundive)
अविक्षिप्तेनwith undistracted (steady)
अविक्षिप्तेन:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootअ-वि-क्षिप्त
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
चेतसाwith mind; with consciousness
चेतसा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootचेतस्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Speech should be ethically purified: truthful yet non-harmful, gentle, compassionate, and free from slander; moreover, even good speech should be measured and spoken with a steady, undistracted mind.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on dharma and proper conduct; here he gives a rule of disciplined speech as part of ethical living and self-mastery.