Shloka 17

Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa

Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results

Devanagari script

जगत्पतिरनिर्देश्य: सर्वग: सर्वभावन: । हृच्छय: सर्वभूतानां ज्येष्ठो रुद्रादपि प्रभु:

Transliteration

jagatpatir anirdeśyaḥ sarvagaḥ sarvabhāvanaḥ | hṛcchayaḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ jyeṣṭho rudrād api prabhuḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: Der Herr des Weltalls entzieht sich jeder genauen Beschreibung; er durchdringt alles und lässt alle Seinszustände hervorgehen. In den Herzen aller Wesen wohnend, ist er der Älteste und der Höchste—an Souveränität selbst Rudra überlegen.

Word by Word

• जगत्पतिः: lord of the world
• जगत्पतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + पति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अनिर्देश्यः: indescribable; not to be indicated/defined
• अनिर्देश्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिर्देश्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वगः: all-pervading; going everywhere
• सर्वगः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वभावनः: creator/sustainer of all beings; one who brings forth all
• सर्वभावनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वभावन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हृच्छयः: dweller in the heart
• हृच्छयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् + शय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वभूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्वभूतानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• ज्येष्ठः: eldest; greatest; foremost
• ज्येष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रुद्रात्: than Rudra; from Rudra
• रुद्रात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• अपि: even; also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• प्रभुः: lord; master
• प्रभुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Jagatpati (the Lord of the universe)
• Rudra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that the highest Lord is both transcendent (indescribable) and immanent (present in every heart), the ultimate source and ruler of all existence; recognizing this supports a dharmic life grounded in devotion and humility.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues his instruction on dharma and sacred duties; here he offers a praise-description of the Supreme Lord, emphasizing divine omnipresence and supremacy even over great deities like Rudra.