Shloka 293

Guru’s Instruction on Dream, Mind, Guṇas, and Knowing Brahman

Svapna–Manas–Guṇa–Brahma-vicāra

Devanagari script

देवाश्न दानवाश्नैव मोहितास्तस्य तेजसा । उनके उस सिंहनादको सुनकर सब देवता जगदीश्वर भगवान्‌ ब्रह्माजीके पास गये। वहाँ पहुँचकर वे इस प्रकार बोले--'देव! प्रभो! यह कैसा सिंहनाद है? इसे हमलोग नहीं जानते। वह कौन वीर है? अथवा किसकी गर्जना है? जिसने इस जगत्‌को व्याकुल कर दिया है। देवता और दानव सभी उसके तेजसे मोहित हो रहे हैं!

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | devāś ca dānavāś caiva mohitās tasya tejasā | taṃ siṃhanādaṃ niśamya sarve devā jagadīśvaraṃ brahmāṇaṃ prati jagmuḥ | tatra prāpyaivam ūcuḥ—deva prabho ayaṃ kīdṛśaḥ siṃhanādaḥ? na vayaṃ enam jānīmaḥ | ko vīraḥ? kasya vā garjanā? yena idaṃ jagad vyākulīkṛtam | devāś ca dānavāś ca sarve tasya tejasā mohyante |

Translation

Bhishma said: “Both the gods and the Dānavas were bewildered by his radiance. Hearing that lion-like roar, all the gods went to Brahmā, the Lord of the universe. Having reached him, they spoke thus: ‘O God, O Lord! What sort of lion-roar is this? We do not recognize it. Who is that hero—or whose thunderous cry is it—that has thrown the world into agitation? Both gods and Dānavas alike are being deluded by his blazing power.’”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'devāḥ', 'definition': 'the gods

• celestial beings'}, {'term': 'dānavāḥ', 'definition': 'Dānavas

• a class of powerful anti-gods/demons'}, {'term': 'mohitāḥ', 'definition': 'bewildered, deluded, confounded'}, {'term': 'tejasā', 'definition': 'by radiance/energy/splendor

• by spiritual or martial brilliance'}, {'term': 'siṃhanādaḥ', 'definition': 'lion-roar

• a mighty, fearsome proclamation or sound'}, {'term': 'jagadīśvaraḥ', 'definition': 'Lord of the world

• epithet of a supreme ruler (here applied to Brahmā in the narrative)'}, {'term': 'brahmā', 'definition': 'Brahmā

• the creator-god in the Hindu triad'}, {'term': 'vīraḥ', 'definition': 'hero, valiant warrior'}, {'term': 'garjanā', 'definition': 'roar, thunderous cry'}, {'term': 'jagat', 'definition': 'the world

• the cosmos'}, {'term': 'vyākula', 'definition': 'agitated, disturbed, unsettled'}]

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Devas
• Danavas
• Brahma
• Jagat (the world/cosmos)
• Simhanada (lion-roar)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Overwhelming power (tejas) can unsettle even exalted beings; the proper response is humble inquiry and seeking higher counsel (approaching Brahmā) rather than rash reaction—an ethical posture aligned with dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

A mysterious, world-shaking lion-like roar is heard. The gods, along with the Dānavas, are confused and affected by the radiance behind it. The gods go to Brahmā and ask who the roaring hero is and why the cosmos has been disturbed.