Shloka 11

Adhyāya 174: Karma as an inescapable companion (कर्मानुगमन-उपदेश)

Devanagari script

राजधर्मा बकः: प्राह प्रणिपत्य पुरन्दरम्‌ । यदि तेअनुग्रहकृता मयि बुद्धि: सुरेश्वर

Transliteration

rājadharmā bakaḥ prāha praṇipatya purandaram | yadi te 'nugrahakṛtā mayi buddhiḥ sureśvara ||

Translation

ৰাজধৰ্মত নিপুণ বকে পুৰন্দৰ (ইন্দ্ৰ)ক প্ৰণাম কৰি ক’লে—“হে সুৰেশ্বৰ! যদি আপোনাৰ অনুগ্ৰহে মোৰ ভিতৰত সদ্বুদ্ধি উদয় হৈছে…”

Word by Word

• राजधर्मान्: duties of a king
• राजधर्मान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजधर्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• बकः: Baka (name)
• बकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्राह: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+अह्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular

• प्रणिपत्य: having bowed down
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+नि+पत्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada

• पुरन्दरम्: Purandara (Indra)
• पुरन्दरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरन्दर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

• ते: of you/your
• ते: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• अनुग्रहकृता: causing (your) favor; favor-bestowing
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुग्रहकृत्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• मयि: in me
• मयि: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Locative, Singular

• बुद्धिः: understanding/intention
• बुद्धिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सुरेश्वर: O lord of the gods
• सुरेश्वर: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरेश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Baka
• Purandara (Indra)
• Sureśvara (Lord of the gods)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames sound political-ethical judgment (rāja-dharma and buddhi) as something strengthened by humility and receptivity to higher guidance: one bows, acknowledges dependence on divine favor, and seeks clarity before acting or advising.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma introduces a remembered speech: Baka, described as knowledgeable in royal duty, approaches Indra (Purandara) with reverence and begins a conditional request—stating that if Indra’s grace has granted him understanding, he will proceed to speak/ask accordingly.