Shloka 15

Bhīṣma on the Śara-Śayyā: Yudhiṣṭhira and Kṛṣṇa Approach the Eldest for Śānti

Devanagari script

वरदानात्‌ पितु: काम॑ छन्‍्दमृत्युरसि प्रभो । शान्तनोर्ध्मनित्यस्य न त्वेतन्‍्मम कारणम्‌

Transliteration

varadānāt pituḥ kāmaṃ chanda-mṛtyur asi prabho | śāntanor dharma-nityasya na tv etan mama kāraṇam ||

Translation

毗舍波耶那说道：“大人啊，凭借你父王的赐福，你已得随心所欲制御死亡之权。圣檀奴恒常安住于法，正因他的恩赐，死亡唯在你自择之时方能临至；此并非出于我之力。”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'varadānāt', 'definition': 'from the granting of a boon

• by a boon'}, {'term': 'pituḥ', 'definition': 'of (your) father'}, {'term': 'kāmam', 'definition': 'according to desire

• at will'}, {'term': 'chanda-mṛtyuḥ (icchā-mṛtyuḥ)', 'definition': 'death at will

• the ability to choose the time of death'}, {'term': 'asi', 'definition': 'you are'}, {'term': 'prabho', 'definition': 'O lord

• O mighty one'}, {'term': 'śāntanoḥ', 'definition': 'of Śāntanu'}, {'term': 'dharma-nityasya', 'definition': 'of one constant/steadfast in dharma'}, {'term': 'na', 'definition': 'not'}, {'term': 'tat', 'definition': 'that'}, {'term': 'mama', 'definition': 'my

• of me'}, {'term': 'kāraṇam', 'definition': 'cause

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Śāntanu

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical power of dharma-backed promises: a boon granted by a righteous father becomes an enduring moral and metaphysical guarantee, showing how integrity and rightful authority can shape destiny (here, mastery over the timing of death).

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana explains that the addressee’s ability to die only when he wishes is not due to the speaker’s agency; it is the direct effect of Śāntanu’s boon, given by a king described as unwavering in dharma.