Shloka 33

Devanagari script

महेष्वासो महीभर्ता श्रीनिवास: सतां गति: । अनिरुद्ध: सुरानन्दो गोविन्दो गोविदां पति:

Transliteration

maheṣvāso mahībhartā śrīnivāsaḥ satāṃ gatiḥ | aniruddhaḥ surānando govindo govidāṃ patiḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: He is the great archer and the sustainer of the earth; the abode of Śrī and the supreme refuge of the virtuous. Unobstructed by any, the delight of the gods—Govinda, the lord of those who know the Veda.

Word by Word

• महेष्वासः: one who has a great bow; great archer
• महेष्वासः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महीभर्ता: supporter/bearer of the earth
• महीभर्ता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीभर्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्रीनिवासः: abode of Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• श्रीनिवासः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीनिवास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सताम्: of the good/virtuous
• सताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• गतिः: refuge; goal; ultimate resort
• गतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• अनिरुद्धः: unobstructed; irresistible
• अनिरुद्धः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिरुद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुरानन्दः: delight of the gods; one who gladdens the devas
• सुरानन्दः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरानन्द
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गोविन्दः: Govinda (name of Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
• गोविन्दः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गोविदाम्: of the knowers of the Veda/sacred speech
• गोविदाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• पतिः: lord; master
• पतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Govinda (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
• Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• sura (the gods)
• Veda (as sacred speech/knowledge)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that the divine (Govinda) is simultaneously the cosmic sustainer and the ultimate refuge of the righteous; ethical life (dharma) finds its highest support in devotion to and reliance upon that supreme protector.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira and, in this section, recites a sequence of divine names/epithets praising Govinda/Viṣṇu, highlighting qualities that inspire trust, reverence, and dharmic orientation.