Shloka 39

कपिलगोसंवादे गृहस्थ-त्यागधर्मयोः प्रमाण्यविचारः

Kapila–Cow Dialogue: Authority of Householder and Renunciant Dharmas

Devanagari script

स तथा निर्गतान्‌ दृष्टवा शकुन्तान्‌ नियतव्रतः । सम्भावितात्मा सम्भाव्य भृशं प्रीतमना5भवत्‌

Transliteration

sa tathā nirgātān dṛṣṭvā śakuntān niyatavrataḥ | sambhāvitātmā sambhāvya bhṛśaṁ prītamanā abhavat ||

Translation

毗湿摩说：见那些鸟儿如此飞去，那位严守誓戒的圣者便揣度自己修行成就的可能，心中大为欢喜。

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• निर्गतान्: gone out, departed
• निर्गतान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्गत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Absolutive (त्वा), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• शकुन्तान्: birds
• शकुन्तान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुन्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नियतव्रतः: one of restrained/observed vows
• नियतव्रतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियतव्रत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सम्भावितात्मा: noble-minded; honored in spirit
• सम्भावितात्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्भावितात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सम्भाव्य: considering, deeming (as possible/fit)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्भाव्य

• भृशम्: greatly, exceedingly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम्

• प्रीतमना: with delighted mind
• प्रीतमना: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीतमन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभवत्: became, was
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Past, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• a sage (mahārṣi, implied by context)
• birds (śakuntāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Steady observance of disciplined vows (niyata-vrata) fosters inner clarity and confidence in spiritual progress; the sign of right practice is not outward display but a quiet, deep gladness rooted in self-mastery.

What is happening in the narrative?

A vow-observing sage watches the birds depart as they should; taking this as a confirming sign, he reflects that his endeavor is bearing fruit and feels intense inward joy.