Shloka 2

Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)

Devanagari script

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच परावरज्ञे धर्मज्ञे तपोवननिवासिनि । साध्वि सुभ्रु सुकेशान्ते हिमवत्पर्वतात्मजे

Transliteration

śrīmaheśvara uvāca | parāvarajñe dharmajñe tapovanani-vāsini | sādhvi subhru sukeśānte himavat-parvatātmaje ||

Translation

শ্রীমহেশ্বর বললেন— হে পর ও অপর তত্ত্বজ্ঞা, ধর্মজ্ঞা, তপোবনে নিবাসিনী! হে সাধ্বী, সুন্দর ভ্রূ-ধারিণী, সুকেশিনী, হিমবৎ পর্বতের আত্মজা!

Word by Word

• श्रीमहेश्वरः: the venerable Maheshvara (Shiva)
• श्रीमहेश्वरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीमहेश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular

• परावरज्ञे: O knower of higher and lower (things)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परावरज्ञ
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• धर्मज्ञे: O knower of dharma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मज्ञ
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• तपोवननिवासिनि: O dweller in the forest of austerities
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपोवननिवासिन्
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• साध्वि: O virtuous lady
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्वी
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• सुभ्रु: O fair-browed one
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुभ्रू
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• सुकेशान्ते: O one with beautiful hair-ends (lovely tresses)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुकेशान्त
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• हिमवत्पर्वतात्मजे: O daughter of Himavat mountain
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत्पर्वतात्मज
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Maheśvara (Śiva)
• Himavat (Himalaya, personified mountain)
• Pārvatī (implied by 'daughter of Himavat')

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse models ethical reverence: true worth is linked to knowledge of dharma and disciplined austerity. By praising these qualities in the mountain-born goddess, the text elevates inner virtue and spiritual insight over mere status.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śiva begins speaking and addresses Pārvatī with honorific epithets—acknowledging her spiritual knowledge, dharmic discernment, and ascetic dwelling—setting a respectful tone for the instruction or discourse that follows.