Shloka 38

सांख्ययोगभेदः तथा योगबलोपदेशः

Sāṃkhya–Yoga Distinction and Instruction on Yogic Strength

Devanagari script

एतत्‌ ते कथितं तात भार्गवस्य महात्मन: । चरितं भरतश्रेष्ठ यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि

Transliteration

etat te kathitaṃ tāta bhārgavasya mahātmanaḥ | caritaṃ bharataśreṣṭha yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi ||

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: «Mein Kind, o Bester der Bharatas, ich habe dir nun das Leben und den Wandel jenes großherzigen Bhārgava erzählt, genau wie du mich gefragt hast. Als Antwort auf deine Nachfrage habe ich die Geschichte Śukrācāryas, des Sohnes Bhṛgus, berichtet.»

Word by Word

• एतत्: this (thing/that which is said)
• एतत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: —, Dative, Singular

• कथितम्: told/related
• कथितम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ्
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• तात: O dear one / O son
• तात: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• भार्गवस्य: of (the) Bhārgava (descendant of Bhṛgu)
• भार्गवस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्गव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled
• महात्मनः: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• चरितम्: life-story/deeds
• चरितम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• भरतश्रेष्ठ: O best of the Bharatas
• भरतश्रेष्ठ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत-श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• यत्: which/that (thing) that
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Accusative, Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: —, Nominative, Singular

• परिपृच्छसि: you ask/inquire
• परिपृच्छसि: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-प्रच्छ्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Bhārgava (descendant of Bhṛgu)
• Bhṛgu
• Śukrācārya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the dharmic method of learning: respectful inquiry by the student (Yudhiṣṭhira) and faithful, complete narration by the teacher (Bhīṣma). It underscores that ethical understanding is transmitted through attentive questioning and authoritative instruction.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma concludes a section by stating that he has finished recounting the life and deeds of the great Bhārgava—identified in context as Śukrācārya, son of Bhṛgu—exactly in response to Yudhiṣṭhira’s question.