Shloka 2

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Public Request for Consent to Enter the Forest (अनुज्ञा-प्रार्थना)

Devanagari script

तथा ततो5भिरूपान्‌ भीष्माय ब्राह्मणानृषिसत्तमान्‌ | पुत्रार्थे सुहृदश्नैव स समीक्ष्य सहस्रश:

Transliteration

tathā tato 'bhirūpān bhīṣmāya brāhmaṇān ṛṣisattamān | putrārthe suhṛdaiś caiva sa samīkṣya sahasraśaḥ ||

Translation

Dann wählte er immer wieder — zu Tausenden — ansehnliche und hervorragende Brahmanen-Rishis sowie wohlgesinnte Freunde aus; und für Bhīṣma bestimmte er sie, in der Absicht, Nachkommenschaft zu erlangen.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• ततः: then/from there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• अभिरूपान्: handsome/pleasing (ones)
• अभिरूपान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिरूप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• भीष्माय: to Bhīṣma
• भीष्माय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ऋषिसत्तमान्: best of sages
• ऋषिसत्तमान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषिसत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• पुत्रार्थे: for the purpose of a son/offspring
• पुत्रार्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्रार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सुहृदः: friends/well-wishers
• सुहृदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समीक्ष्य: having examined/considered
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-ईक्ष्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• सहस्रशः: by thousands; in thousands
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रशस्

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīṣma
• Brāhmaṇas
• Ṛṣis (sages)
• Suhṛds (well-wishers/friends)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic approach to major life-goals: decisions about lineage and continuity should be made with careful consideration, guided by learned Brahmin sages and supported by trustworthy well-wishers, emphasizing propriety and responsible deliberation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that a figure (referred to as 'he') repeatedly selects large numbers of eminent Brahmin sages and friends, choosing them for Bhīṣma with the intention connected to obtaining offspring (putrārtha).