Shloka 76

Nārada–Vāyu–Śalmali Upākhyāna: Enmity with the Strong and the Primacy of Buddhi (नारद-वायु-शल्मलि उपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

चरिष्यमाण इन्द्रोतं शौनकं संशितव्रतम्‌ | राजन! यहाँ मैं जो इतिहास बता रहा हूँ

Transliteration

cariṣyamāṇa indrotaṃ śaunakaṃ saṃśitavratam | rājan! iha ahaṃ yo itihāsaṃ bravīmi sa dharmasya vṛddhi-karaḥ | rājā janamejayaḥ sva-pāpa-karmabhiḥ dagdhaḥ vane caran dṛḍha-vrata-parāyaṇaṃ śaunaka-vaṃśyaṃ indrotaṃ muniṃ samupāgamat ||

Translation

ভীষ্ম বললেন—হে রাজন! আমি যে প্রাচীন উপাখ্যান বলিতে যাচ্ছি, তাহা ধর্মবৃদ্ধিকারক। নিজ পাপকর্মের ফলে দগ্ধ হয়ে অরণ্যে বিচরণরত রাজা জনমেজয় কঠোর ব্রতপরায়ণ শৌনকবংশীয় মুনি ইন্দ্রোতের নিকট উপস্থিত হইলেন।

Word by Word

• चरिष्यमाणः: wandering / moving about
• चरिष्यमाणः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त, परस्मैपदी), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इन्द्रोतम्: Indrota (proper name)
• इन्द्रोतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रोत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शौनकम्: of the Śaunaka lineage / descendant of Śaunaka
• शौनकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• संशितव्रतम्: one whose vow is sharpened/firm; of strict vows
• संशितव्रतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशितव्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Janamejaya
• Indrota (sage)
• Shaunaka lineage
• forest (vana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage frames moral storytelling (itihāsa) as a means to strengthen dharma, and it highlights that wrongdoing leads to inner burning and suffering, prompting a seeker to approach a disciplined sage for guidance and possible atonement.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma introduces a dharma-enhancing story: King Janamejaya, afflicted by the results of sinful actions and roaming in the forest, goes to the vow-observant sage Indrota of the Shaunaka lineage.