Shloka 4

Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā

Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative

Devanagari script

राजा शत्रुंजयो नाम सौवीरेषु महारथ: । भारद्वाजमुपागम्य पप्रच्छार्थविनिश्चवयम्‌

Transliteration

rājā śatruñjayo nāma sauvīreṣu mahārathaḥ | bhāradvājam upāgamya papracchārtha-viniścayam ||

Translation

قال بهيشما: «في أرض السوفِيرَة كان ملك يُدعى شترونجايا، فارسَ عربةٍ عظيمًا. فلما أتى بهارادفاجا سأله أن يحسم له على وجه القطع أيَّ مسلكٍ—وأيَّ واجب—ينبغي اتباعه.»

Word by Word

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शत्रुंजयः: Shatruñjaya (name)
• शत्रुंजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रुंजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नाम: by name / named
• नाम: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सौवीरेषु: among/in the Sauviras (Sauvira country/people)
• सौवीरेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौवीर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• महारथः: great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भारद्वाजम्: Bharadvāja
• भारद्वाजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारद्वाज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उपागम्य: having approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-गम्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral in gerund)

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-छ् (पृच्छ्)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अर्थ-विनिश्चयम्: determination/decision of the matter (duty/purpose)
• अर्थ-विनिश्चयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थविनिश्चय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Śatruñjaya
• Bhāradvāja
• Sauvīra (country/people)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should seek clear determination of dharma and practical duty by approaching a qualified sage; ethical governance begins with humble inquiry and decisive understanding.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma introduces an illustrative episode: King Śatruñjaya of Sauvīra goes to the sage Bhāradvāja and asks him for a definitive judgment about what he ought to do.