Shloka 47

Bhīṣma’s Yogic Departure, Royal Cremation, and Gaṅgā’s Lament (भीष्मस्य योगयुक्त्या देहत्यागः, पितृमेधः, गङ्गाविलापः)

Devanagari script

न्याय्यं श्रेयोडभिकामेन प्रतिपत्तुं जनार्दन: । एष एवाक्षयो विप्रै: स्तुतो राजन्‌ जनार्दन:

Transliteration

nyāyyaṁ śreyodabhikāmena pratipattuṁ janārdanaḥ | eṣa evākṣayo vipraiḥ stuto rājan janārdanaḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma sprach: „Wer das höchste Heil begehrt, für den ist es recht und geziemend, bei Janardana Zuflucht zu nehmen. O König, eben diesen unvergänglichen Janardana haben die Brahmanen gepriesen.“

Word by Word

• न्याय्यम्: proper, right
• न्याय्यम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्याय्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• श्रेयः: the good, welfare, highest good
• श्रेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• उद्भिकामेन: by one desiring to obtain (it)
• उद्भिकामेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्भिकाम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• प्रतिपत्तुम्: to resort to, to take refuge in / to undertake
• प्रतिपत्तुम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-√पद्
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive), Parasmaipada (usage), Infinitive (non-finite)

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa)
• जनार्दनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एव: indeed, only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• अक्षयः: imperishable
• अक्षयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विप्रैः: by the brāhmaṇas
• विप्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• स्तुतः: praised
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्तु
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Passive (PPP)

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa)
• जनार्दनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Janardana (Krishna/Vishnu)
• Brahmins (vipra)
• King (Yudhishthira, implied addressee)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

One who truly seeks śreyas (the highest, lasting good) should adopt the dharmic course of taking refuge in Janardana (Krishna/Vishnu), who is described as imperishable and universally praised by the learned.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction to the king (Yudhishthira), he recommends devotion and reliance upon Janardana as the rightful path for ultimate welfare, citing the authority of Brahmins who have traditionally praised him.