Shloka 6

भीष्मसेनापत्याभिषेकः

Bhīṣma’s Appointment as Commander-in-Chief

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वैतद्‌ धर्मराजस्य धर्मार्थसहितं वच: । मेघदुन्दुभिनिर्घोष: कृष्णो वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्‌,धर्मराजका यह धर्म और अर्थसे युक्त वचन सुनकर भगवान्‌ श्रीकृष्णने मेघ और दुन्दुभिके समान गम्भीर स्वरमें यह बात कही

Transliteration

śrutvaitad dharmarājasya dharmārthasahitaṃ vacaḥ | meghadundubhinirghoṣaḥ kṛṣṇo vākyam athābravīt ||

Translation

فلما سمع كِرِشنا قولَ دهرماراجا—كلامًا جامعًا بين الدارما والمنفعة العملية—أجاب بصوتٍ يدوي كقصف السحاب وكقرع طبل الحرب.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• एतत्: this (speech/statement)
• एतत्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धर्मराजस्य: of Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• धर्मार्थसहितम्: accompanied by dharma and artha; containing righteousness and expediency
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मार्थसहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वचः: speech; words
• वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मेघदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषः: having a sound like clouds and a kettle-drum; thunderous-voiced
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघदुन्दुभिनिर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कृष्णः: Krishna
• कृष्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वाक्यम्: a statement; words
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अथ: then; thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अब्रवीत्: said; spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Kṛṣṇa
• megha (thundercloud)
• dundubhi (war-drum)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights an ideal of counsel and decision-making: speech should be dharmārtha-sahita—grounded in righteousness (dharma) while also attentive to practical welfare and statecraft (artha).

What is happening in the narrative?

After Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira) speaks in a manner consistent with both moral duty and prudent policy, Kṛṣṇa responds; the simile of thundercloud and war-drum underscores the solemn authority and gravity of his forthcoming words.