Shloka 7

अध्याय २२० — बलिवासवसंवादः

Bali–Vāsava Dialogue on Kāla and Steadfastness

Devanagari script

क्रव्याद्धय इव भूतानामदान्तेभ्य: सदा भयम्‌ | तेषां विप्रतिषेधार्थ राजा सृष्ट: स्वयम्भुवा

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca |

kravyāddhaya iva bhūtānām adāntebhyaḥ sadā bhayam |

teṣāṃ vipratiṣedhārthaṃ rājā sṛṣṭaḥ svayambhuvā ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“凡不能约束其心与诸根者，令一切众生恒常恐惧，如同畏惧食肉猛兽。故为制止并约束此等无法无纪之人的放纵冲动，自生的造物主设立了王权之制。”

Word by Word

• क्रव्यादेभ्यः: from flesh-eaters (carnivores)
• क्रव्यादेभ्यः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रव्याद
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Plural

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• भूतानाम्: of beings/creatures
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• अदान्तेभ्यः: from the unrestrained (undisciplined)
• अदान्तेभ्यः: Apadana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अदान्त
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Plural

• सदा: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• तेषाम्: of them
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• विप्रतिषेधार्थम्: for the purpose of restraint/checking
• विप्रतिषेधार्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्रतिषेध-अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सृष्टः: created
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्वयम्भुवा: by the Self-born (Brahmā)
• स्वयम्भुवा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयम्भू
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Svayambhu (Brahma, the Self-born Creator)
• Raja (king/kingship)
• Kravyada (carnivorous beasts)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Unrestrained people become a source of fear for society; therefore kingship (rule backed by restraint and punishment) is instituted to curb lawlessness and protect living beings.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma and governance in the Shanti Parva, he explains why the Creator established the king: to restrain those who cannot control their minds and senses, ensuring public safety and order.