Shloka 3

अध्याय २२० — बलिवासवसंवादः

Bali–Vāsava Dialogue on Kāla and Steadfastness

Devanagari script

नादान्तस्य क्रियासिद्धिर्यथावदुपपद्यते । क्रिया तपश्च सत्यं च दमे सर्व प्रतिष्ठितम्‌

Transliteration

nā dāntasya kriyā-siddhir yathāvad upapadyate | kriyā tapaś ca satyaṃ ca dame sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“不自制者，诸行难得如法成就；因为行为、苦行与真实——这一切都唯有依止自制而得以安立。”

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अदान्तस्य: of the undisciplined (one without self-control)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अदान्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• क्रिया: action; undertaking
• क्रिया: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सिद्धिः: success; accomplishment
• सिद्धिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• यथा: as; in the proper manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• वत्: in the manner of; -ly (forming an adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वत्

• उपपद्यते: is possible; is obtained; comes about
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप√पद्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• क्रिया: action
• क्रिया: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• तपः: austerity; penance
• तपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

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

• सत्यम्: truth; truthfulness
• सत्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

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

• दमे: in self-control; in restraint
• दमे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सर्वम्: all (of it)
• सर्वम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• प्रतिष्ठितम्: is established; is founded
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति√स्था (प्रतिष्ठित)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular, Past Passive Participle

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Self-control (dama) is presented as the indispensable foundation for ethical life: without restraint, one cannot properly succeed in action, and even austerity and truthfulness lack stability.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising on right conduct, emphasizing that disciplined restraint is the basis that makes duty, ascetic practice, and truth effective and reliable.