Shloka 16

Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)

Devanagari script

ऋषिरासीन्महा भागो देवशर्मेति विश्रुत:

Transliteration

ṛṣir āsīn mahābhāgo devaśarmeti viśrutaḥ

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „Einst lebte ein großer, vom Glück begünstigter Rishi, berühmt unter dem Namen Devaśarman.“

Word by Word

• ऋषिः: sage
• ऋषिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आसीत्: was
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• महा-भागः: greatly fortunate / illustrious
• महा-भागः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + भाग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• देवशर्मा: Devasharman (proper name)
• देवशर्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवशर्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इति: thus / named as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• विश्रुतः: renowned / famous
• विश्रुतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-श्रु (धातु) → विश्रुत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Devaśarman

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse introduces an exemplary figure—a renowned sage—signaling that ethical instruction is often conveyed through the lives and reputations of the virtuous, whose conduct becomes a model for dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma begins a didactic account by presenting the protagonist: a famous and illustrious ṛṣi named Devaśarman, setting the stage for the lesson that follows.