Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 10

Adhyāya 223: Nāradasya Guṇa-kathana

Catalogue of Nārada’s Virtues

Devanagari script

शक्र उवाच यदि सम बलिना ब्रह्मन्‌ शून्यागारे समेयिवान्‌ । हन्यामेनं न वा हन्यां तद्‌ ब्रह्मुन्ननुशाधि माम्‌

Transliteration

śakra uvāca yadi sama balinā brahman śūnyāgāre sameyivān | hanyām enaṃ na vā hanyāṃ tad brahmann anuśādhi mām ||

Translation

释迦（因陀罗）说道：“婆罗门啊，若我在空屋中独自遇见婆利，我当杀他，还是不当杀他？婆罗门啊，请教我何为正当。”

Word by Word

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

• समम्: equal(ly), on equal terms
• समम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• बलिना: with Bali (the king Bali)
• बलिना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (sage)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• शून्यागारे: in an empty house/solitary chamber
• शून्यागारे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शून्यागार
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• समेयिवान्: having met / having come together
• समेयिवान्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-इ
• Form: Perfect active participle (Liṭ-kṛdanta), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हन्याम्: should I kill
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-liṅ), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• हन्याम्: should I kill
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-liṅ), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तत्: that (matter)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अनुशाधि: instruct (me), tell
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-शास्
• Form: Imperative (Loṭ), 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

शक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)
• Bali
• Brahmin (unnamed adviser)
• śūnyāgāra (empty house)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a dharma-question: even a powerful ruler (Indra) must seek ethical guidance before using lethal force, especially in a situation resembling an ambush or private killing rather than open combat.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra (Śakra) asks a Brahmin adviser whether, if he meets Bali alone in a deserted house, he should kill him or refrain, requesting a clear instruction on the righteous course.