Shloka 38

भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्

Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्ततो राजन्‌ पिता देवव्रतस्तव

Transliteration

evam uktas tato rājan pitā devavratas tava

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: „So angesprochen, o König, antwortete dein Vater Devavrata (Bhīṣma) darauf und machte sich zum Handeln bereit.“

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्तः: having been spoken to / addressed
• उक्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• ततः: then; thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

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

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• देवव्रतः: Devavrata (Bhishma)
• देवव्रतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवव्रत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तव: your
• तव: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhritarashtra
• Devavrata (Bhishma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how speech and counsel directed to a responsible elder immediately translate into action governed by duty (dharma), especially in a war setting where authority, lineage, and obligation weigh heavily.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya continues reporting to Dhritarashtra and marks a transition: after someone has addressed Bhishma (Devavrata), Bhishma—called ‘your father’ to stress his seniority and guardianship of the Kuru line—proceeds to respond or act.