Shloka 1

एकान्तिधर्म-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into Ekāntin Dharma) / The Origin and Practice of Single-Pointed Nārāyaṇa-Centered Discipline

Devanagari script

(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका ३ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ४५३ श्लोक हैं) #द-2८5- | पर ॥ #* पजञ्चत्रिशर्दाधिकत्रिशततमो< ध्याय: नारदजीका श्वेतद्वीपदर्शन

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | sa evam ukto dvipadāṁ variṣṭho nārāyaṇenottama-pūruṣeṇa | jagāda vākyaṁ dvipadāṁ variṣṭa nārāyaṇaṁ loka-hitādhivāsam ||

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „O Yudhiṣṭhira! Als Nārāyaṇa, der höchste Puruṣottama, so zu Nārada—dem Vorzüglichsten unter den Zweifüßigen—gesprochen hatte, da erwiderte Nārada, selbst der Beste der Menschen, dem Nārāyaṇa, der bleibenden Zuflucht des Wohls der Welt, mit folgenden Worten.“

Word by Word

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• उक्तः: having been addressed/said to
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (kta)

• द्विपदाम्: of bipeds (men)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विपद
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• वरिष्ठः: the best/supreme
• वरिष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरिष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Superlative

• नारायणेन: by Narayana
• नारायणेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• उत्तमपूरुषेण: by the supreme Person
• उत्तमपूरुषेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तमपूरुष
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• जगाद: said/uttered
• Type: Verb
• Root: गद्
• Form: Perfect, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वाक्यम्: a statement/words
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• द्विपदाम्: of bipeds (men)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विपद
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• वरिष्ठः: the best/supreme
• वरिष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरिष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Superlative

• नारायणम्: Narayana
• नारायणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• लोकहिताधिवासम्: abode/support of the welfare of the world
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोकहिताधिवास
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Nārāyaṇa
• Nārada

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse establishes the ethical frame of the discourse: teachings about God and dharma are presented as loka-hita—meant for the welfare of the world. It also underscores humility and reverence in spiritual inquiry: even the greatest sages speak as respondents before the Supreme.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma narrates a shift in the dialogue: after Nārāyaṇa speaks to Nārada, Nārada begins his reply. This sets up the forthcoming account connected with Śvetadvīpa and related Vaiṣṇava themes (as indicated by the chapter’s traditional topic).