Shloka 57

अध्याय २८१ — दानधर्मः, न्यायागतधनम्, ऋणत्रय-परिशोधनं च

Dāna ethics, lawful wealth, and settling obligations

Devanagari script

एवं शक्रेण सम्प्राप्ता ब्रह्मवध्या जनाधिप । पितामहमनुज्ञाप्य सो5श्वमेधमकल्पयत्‌,नरेश्वर! इस प्रकार इन्द्रको ब्रह्महत्या प्राप्त हुई थी, फिर उन्होंने ब्रह्माजीकी आज्ञा लेकर अश्वमेध यज्ञका अनुष्ठान किया

Transliteration

evaṁ śakreṇa samprāptā brahmavadhyā janādhipa | pitāmaham anujñāpya so 'śvamedham akalpayat ||

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „O Herr der Menschen, auf diese Weise kam die Sünde des Brahmanenmordes (brahma-hatyā) über Indra. Danach, nachdem er die Erlaubnis des Urahnen (Brahmā) erlangt hatte, nahm er die Darbringung des Aśvamedha-Opfers auf.“

Word by Word

एवम्thus, in this manner

शक्रेणby Śakra (Indra)

सम्प्राप्ताhaving come/attained; having befallen

ब्रह्मवध्याthe sin/affliction of Brahmin-slaying (brahmahatyā)

जनाधिपO lord of people (king)

पितामहम्the Grandfather (Brahmā)

अनुज्ञाप्यhaving obtained permission (from)

सःhe

अश्वमेधम्the Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)

अकल्पयत्arranged, undertook, performed

नरेश्वरO lord of men (king)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Śakra (Indra)

Brahmā (Pitāmaha)

Brahmahatyā (sin of Brahmin-slaying)

Aśvamedha (sacrifice)

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?

Even a powerful ruler is not above moral consequence: grave wrongdoing brings guilt, and restoration requires acknowledged expiation undertaken with proper authority and humility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma recounts that Indra became afflicted with the guilt of brahmahatyā; then, after seeking Brahmā’s consent, Indra arranged to perform an Aśvamedha sacrifice as a remedial rite.