Shloka 15

उशनसः (शुक्रस्य) चरितम् — The Account of Uśanā (Śukra): Yoga, Grievance, and Pacification

Devanagari script

भ्रष्टैश्वर्य पुरा वृत्रमुशना वाक्यमब्रवीत्‌ | काचित्‌ पराजितस्याद्य न व्यथा ते5स्ति दानव

Transliteration

bhraṣṭaiśvaryaḥ purā vṛtram uśanā vākyam abravīt | kācit parājitasya adya na vyathā te 'sti dānava ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：久远以前，当弗栗陀罗（Vṛtra）从旧日的王权中坠落时，乌沙那（Uśanas，即舒克罗阿阇梨 Śukrācārya）对他说：“噢达那婆！你虽已战败，如今却全无忧苦之色。这是为何？”

Word by Word

• भ्रष्टैश्वर्यम्: one whose sovereignty has fallen (fallen from power)
• भ्रष्टैश्वर्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रष्ट-ऐश्वर्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पुरा: formerly, once
• पुरा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा

• वृत्रम्: Vṛtra (Vṛtrāsura)
• वृत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उशना: Uśanā (Śukrācārya)
• उशना: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उशनस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वाक्यम्: speech, words
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अब्रवीत्: said, spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular

• काचित्: any (some) (as in: any distress?)
• काचित्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम् (काचित्)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• पराजितस्य: of the defeated (one)
• पराजितस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराजित
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अद्य: today, now
• अद्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य

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

• व्यथा: distress, pain, anxiety
• व्यथा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यथा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Dative, Singular

• अस्ति: is, exists
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Present (Laṭ), 3rd, Singular

• दानव: O Dānava (demon lord)
• दानव: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Vritra (Vṛtra)
• Ushanas (Shukracharya)
• Danavas/Asuras
• Devas (implied as the victors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse sets up an ethical inquiry: true steadiness is measured not by external success but by the mind’s freedom from agitation. By highlighting Vritra’s lack of distress even after losing sovereignty, the text points toward inner composure and detachment as a higher strength than mere power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma recalls an old episode: after Vritra has been defeated and stripped of his former dominion, his teacher Ushanas (Shukracharya) notices Vritra’s unusual calm and asks why he feels no pain or anxiety despite the defeat.