Shloka 14

Śvetadvīpa-varṇana and Śāstra-pravartana (Śānti Parva 322)

Devanagari script

आत्मना विदहितं दुःखमात्मना विहितं सुखम्‌ | गर्भशय्यामुपादाय भुज्यते पौर्वदेहिकम्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | ātmanā vidhitaṃ duḥkham ātmanā vihitaṃ sukham | garbhaśayyām upādāya bhujyate paurvadehikam ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：苦由自我所造，乐亦由自我所定。众生一旦依止母胎之床，便开始领受前身所积之果——往昔之业成熟为乐与苦。

Word by Word

• आत्मना: by oneself
• आत्मना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• विदहितम्: ordained/produced
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-धा (धातु) → विदहित (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• आत्मना: by oneself
• आत्मना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• विहितम्: ordained/produced
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-धा (धातु) → विहित (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• गर्भशय्याम्: the womb-bed (uterine couch)
• गर्भशय्याम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भशय्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• उपादाय: having taken/obtained (having entered upon)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप-आ-दा (धातु) → उपादाय (क्त्वान्त अव्यय)
• Form: Gerund (ktvā/lyap), Parasmaipada (usage)

• भुज्यते: is experienced/enjoyed
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज्
• Form: Lat, Present, Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Passive (karmani-prayoga)

• पौर्वदेहिकम्: belonging to the former body (from a previous embodiment)
• पौर्वदेहिकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौर्वदेहिक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Atman (self)
• Garbha (womb)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That both suffering and happiness arise from one’s own actions: the self is the maker of its experience, and the results of past deeds (even from a previous embodiment) inevitably mature and are undergone.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right understanding, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira about karma and rebirth: the jīva, upon entering the womb, begins to experience the accumulated fruits of prior-life actions as pleasure and pain.