Shloka 21

Prajñā as Pratiṣṭhā — Indra–Kāśyapa Saṃvāda (Śānti-parva 12.173)

Devanagari script

इत्यूचुस्ते महाराज राक्षसेन्द्रं निशाचरा: । शिरोभशि: प्रणता: सर्वे व्याहरन्‌ राक्षसधिपम्‌

Transliteration

ity ūcus te mahārāja rākṣasendraṃ niśācarāḥ | śirobhis praṇatāḥ sarve vyāharan rākṣasadhipam ||

Translation

ভীষ্ম বললেন— মহারাজ! এ কথা বলে সেই সকল নিশাচর রাক্ষস মাথা নত করে প্রণাম জানিয়ে রাক্ষসদের অধিপতি রাক্ষসরাজকে সম্বোধন করল।

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति
• Form: Avyaya

• ऊचुः: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, plural, Parasmaipada

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, vocative, singular

• राक्षसेन्द्रम्: the lord of the Rakshasas
• राक्षसेन्द्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

• निशाचराः: night-roamers (Rakshasas)
• निशाचराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशाचर
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• शिरोभिः: with (their) heads
• शिरोभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, instrumental, plural

• प्रणताः: bowed down, prostrated
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणत
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• सर्वे: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• व्याहरन्: uttered, spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-आ-हृ
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, plural, Parasmaipada

• राक्षसधिपम्: the ruler of the Rakshasas
• राक्षसधिपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसधिप
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Mahārāja (addressed king, i.e., Yudhiṣṭhira in context)
• Rākṣasendra (lord of the rākṣasas)
• Niśācarāḥ (rākṣasas/night-roamers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights social and political order: even fierce beings like rākṣasas observe hierarchy and protocol—speaking to their leader only after bowing—implying that disciplined conduct and respect for authority are foundational to any organized community.

What is happening in the narrative?

After making a statement (from the preceding context), the assembled niśācaras (rākṣasas) collectively bow their heads and then address their ruler, the rākṣasa-lord, indicating a formal audience or counsel before their king.