Shloka 4

अध्याय २२० — बलिवासवसंवादः

Bali–Vāsava Dialogue on Kāla and Steadfastness

Devanagari script

दमस्तेजो वर्धयति पवित्र दम उच्यते । विपाप्मा निर्भयो दान्त: पुरुषो विन्दते महत्‌

Transliteration

damaḥ tejo vardhayati pavitraḥ dama ucyate | vipāpmā nirbhayo dāntaḥ puruṣo vindate mahat ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“自制增长内在的光威与力量（tejas），故自制被称为至净之法。能制伏心与诸根者，离罪离惧，得至‘大’（mahat）之境——真实的灵性崇高。”

Word by Word

• दमः: self-control, restraint
• दमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तेजः: splendor, vigor
• तेजः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वर्धयति: increases
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पवित्रः: pure, purifying
• पवित्रः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दमः: self-control
• दमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उच्यते: is said, is called
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Passive (Karmani)

• विपाप्मा: free from sin
• विपाप्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपाप्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निर्भयः: fearless
• निर्भयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दान्तः: restrained, self-controlled
• दान्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √दम्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• पुरुषः: person, man
• पुरुषः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विन्दते: obtains, finds
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु; विन्द्-आदेश)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• महत्: the great (state/goal)
• महत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That dama (self-restraint over mind and senses) is intrinsically purifying and strengthens tejas (inner radiance/energy), leading to freedom from sin and fear and culminating in attainment of a ‘great’ spiritual state.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma continues advising on virtues; here he highlights self-restraint as a foundational discipline that purifies and elevates a person.