Shloka 56

Devanagari script

सतं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा त्रि: शैलं चोत्तरामुख: । समेन भूमिभागेन ययौ प्रीतिपुरस्कृत:,तीन बार उस पर्वतकी परिक्रमा करके वे उत्तराभिमुख हो समतल भूमिसे प्रसन्नतापूर्वक आगे बढ़े

Transliteration

sataṁ pradakṣiṇaṁ kṛtvā triḥ śailaṁ cottarāmukhaḥ | samena bhūmibhāgena yayau prītipuraskṛtaḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma said: Having respectfully circumambulated the mountain three times, he then proceeded onward facing north, moving over level ground, his steps guided by gladness and reverent purpose.

Word by Word

शतम्a hundred (times)

प्रदक्षिणम्circumambulation (keeping the right side)

कृत्वाhaving done

त्रिःthrice

शैलम्mountain

चand

उत्तरामुखःfacing north

समेनwith level/even

भूमिभागेनby/along a tract of ground

ययौwent

प्रीतिपुरस्कृतःpreceded by joy; joyfully

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma (speaker)

śaila (mountain)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic conduct expressed through reverence: honoring a sacred place or object by pradakṣiṇā (circumambulation) and proceeding with a composed, auspicious orientation (north-facing), suggesting disciplined devotion rather than haste or disregard.

What is happening in the narrative?

A figure (referred to as ‘he’) completes three respectful circumambulations of a mountain and then continues his journey facing north, moving across level ground with a sense of joy and purposeful reverence.