Shloka 1

Umā–Maheśvara-saṃvāda: Varṇa-bhraṃśa, Ācāra (Vṛtta), and Karmic Ascent/Decline

Devanagari script

षड्विशवत्याधेकशततमो< ध्याय: विष्णु

Transliteration

Bhīṣma uvāca: kena te ca bhavet prītiḥ? kathaṃ tuṣṭiṃ tu gacchasi? iti pṛṣṭaḥ surendreṇa provāca Harir Īśvaraḥ.

Translation

Bhishma said: “By what does Your delight arise, and how may You be truly satisfied?” Thus questioned by Indra, the lord of the gods, Hari—the Supreme Lord—replied. (Bhishma narrates to Yudhishthira an ancient episode in which Indra asks Vishnu what actions please Him, introducing a teaching on the subtle principles of dharma.)

Word by Word

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

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• केन: by what (means)
• केन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

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

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• भवेत्: would arise / would be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्रीतिः: pleasure, satisfaction
• प्रीतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• कथम्: how
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम्

• तुष्टिम्: contentment, satisfaction
• तुष्टिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुष्टि
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• तु: indeed, but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• गच्छसि: you go / you attain
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Present (Lat), 2, Singular, Parasmaipada

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• पृष्टः: having been asked
• Type: Verb
• Root: पृच्छ्
• Form: Past passive participle (kta), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुरेन्द्रेण: by the lord of the gods (Indra)
• सुरेन्द्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• प्रोवाच: said, spoke forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• हरिः: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Indra (Surendra)
• Viṣṇu (Hari, Īśvara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a dharma-inquiry: what kinds of actions and inner dispositions genuinely please the Divine. It sets up the principle that dharma is not merely ritual performance but the right conduct and intention that lead to divine approval and moral order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma, instructing Yudhishthira, recalls an ancient dialogue: Indra asks Vishnu how Vishnu is pleased and satisfied. The verse functions as the opening to Vishnu’s forthcoming explanation of the subtle ‘secret’ of dharma.