Shloka 53

Devanagari script

करन्धमो नरश्रेष्ठ: कथध्मोरक्ष नराधिप: । दक्षो5म्बरीष: कुकुरो रैवतश्न महायशा:

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca |

karandhamo naraśreṣṭhaḥ kathadhmorakṣa narādhipaḥ |

dakṣo 'mbharīṣaḥ kukuro raivataś ca mahāyaśāḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “(Hear further) the names of these eminent royal sages: Karandhama, the best of men; Kathadhmora, a lord among kings; Dakṣa; Ambarīṣa; Kukura; and the greatly renowned Raivata.” In this chapter, Bhīṣma offers a meritorious litany of righteous rulers, teaching that their remembrance and recitation nurtures dharma and brings spiritual benefit.

Word by Word

• करन्धमः: Karandhama (a king)
• करन्धमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: करन्धम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नरश्रेष्ठः: best of men
• नरश्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नरश्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कध्मोरः: Kadhmora (a king)
• कध्मोरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कध्मोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• उरक्षः: Uraksha (a king)
• उरक्षः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नराधिपः: lord of men; king
• नराधिपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नराधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दक्षः: Daksha (name; also 'skilful')
• दक्षः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अम्बरीषः: Ambarisha (a king)
• अम्बरीषः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कुकुरः: Kukura (a king/ancestor)
• कुकुरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुकुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रैवतश्च: and Raivata
• रैवतश्च: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रैवत (प्रातिपदिक) + च
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महायशाः: of great fame
• महायशाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महायशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Karandhama
• Kathadhmora
• Daksha
• Ambarisha
• Kukura
• Raivata

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Remembering and honoring exemplary rulers—figures associated with righteous conduct and good governance—is presented as a dharmic practice that supports ethical orientation and accrues religious merit.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma continues a catalog of celebrated kings/royal sages, naming several in succession as part of a longer litany whose recitation is praised.