Shloka 20

Devanagari script

अखिल दैवतं सर्व ब्रह्म ब्रह्मणि संश्रितम्‌

Transliteration

akhila-daivataṁ sarvaṁ brahma brahmaṇi saṁśritam

Translation

Chūlādhāra verkündet, dass alle Götter in ihrer Gesamtheit nichts anderes als Brahman sind und dass diese ganze göttliche Vielheit letztlich in Brahman selbst gründet—und so den Hörer von sektiererischer Spaltung weg hin zu einer einheitlichen, ethischen Sicht der Wirklichkeit weist, die im Einen verankert ist.

Word by Word

अखिलम्entire, whole

दैवतंdivinity; deity (collectively)

सर्वम्all

ब्रह्मBrahman; the Absolute

ब्रह्मणिin Brahman

संश्रितम्resting upon; dependent on; resorted to

Speaker

चुलाधार उवाच

Characters & Entities

Brahman

all deities (akhila-daivata)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches theological and ethical integration: the many gods are expressions of one Brahman, and their reality is grounded in Brahman. This supports a non-sectarian outlook and encourages dharmic conduct based on seeing a single underlying reality rather than competing divine factions.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Chūlādhāra is instructing his interlocutor by articulating a metaphysical principle: the entire pantheon is encompassed by Brahman and depends upon Brahman, reframing devotion and duty within a unified vision of the Absolute.