Shloka 34

नारायणीयमाख्यानम् (Nārāyaṇīyam Ākhyānam) — Nārada’s Return and Hymnic Consolidation

Devanagari script

अनग्नेर्भूमेरपां वायोरन्तरिक्षस्य चैव ह । वीर्येण सदृशः पुत्र: पुरा मत्तस्त्वया वृत:

Transliteration

anagner bhūmer apāṁ vāyor antarīkṣasya caiva ha | vīryeṇa sadṛśaḥ putraḥ purā mattas tvayā vṛtaḥ |

Translation

হে ব্রাহ্মণ! পূর্বে তুমি আমার কাছে এমন এক পুত্র প্রার্থনা করেছিলে, যার বীর্য অগ্নি, ভূমি, জল, বায়ু ও আকাশের সমান হবে।

Word by Word

• {'anagneḥ': 'of fire (Agni)

• genitive singular', 'bhūmeḥ': 'of the earth

• genitive singular', 'apām': 'of the waters

• genitive plural', 'vāyoḥ': 'of the wind

• genitive singular', 'antarīkṣasya': 'of the midspace/sky/atmosphere

• genitive singular', 'ca eva': 'and indeed/also', 'ha': 'particle indicating emphasis or recollection (‘indeed’, ‘surely’)', 'vīryeṇa': 'by strength, valor, potency

• instrumental singular', 'sadṛśaḥ': 'similar, comparable

• nominative singular masculine', 'putraḥ': 'son

• nominative singular', 'purā': 'formerly, earlier', 'mattaḥ': 'from me

• ablative singular', 'tvayā': 'by you

• instrumental singular', 'vṛtaḥ': 'chosen/asked for/sought

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Brahmin (unnamed)
• Agni (fire)
• Bhumi (earth)
• Ap (waters)
• Vayu (wind)
• Antariksha (sky/atmosphere)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse links rightful aspiration and disciplined austerity (tapas) with the ethical granting of boons: power is not merely physical but is framed as purity and brahmanical radiance, implying that true strength should be aligned with inner sanctity and dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma recalls a prior request made by a Brahmin for a son equal in potency to the great elements (fire, earth, water, wind, sky). Bhishma states that, through the Brahmin’s austerities and Bhishma’s favor, such a son was indeed obtained—described as radiant with brahmatejas and exceptionally pure.