Shloka 8

Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy

Devanagari script

गद्दरं प्रतिभात्येतन्मम चिन्तयतो5निशम्‌ | निः:संदेहमिदं सर्व पितामह यथाश्रुति,पितामह! मैं ज्यों-ज्यों इस विषयपर विचार करता हूँ, त्यों-त्यों यह बात मुझे अत्यन्त दुर्बोध प्रतीत होती है। अत: आपने इस विषयमें जो कुछ श्रुतिका विधान हो, उसके अनुसार यह सब समझाइये जिससे मेरा संदेह दूर हो जाय

Transliteration

gahanaṁ pratibhāty etan mama cintayato 'niśam | niḥsaṁśayam idaṁ sarvaṁ pitāmaha yathāśruti ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “As I reflect on this matter again and again, it appears to me exceedingly deep and hard to grasp. Therefore, O Grandfather, explain all of it to me without any doubt, in accordance with what is taught in the śruti, so that my uncertainty may be dispelled.”

Word by Word

• {'gahanaṁ': 'deep, dense, difficult to penetrate

• hard to understand', 'pratibhāti': 'appears, seems, presents itself to the mind', 'etat': 'this (matter/topic under discussion)', 'mama': 'to me, of me', 'cintayataḥ': 'of (me) thinking/reflecting

• genitive of the present participle', 'aniśam': 'unceasingly, continually', 'niḥsaṁśayam': 'without doubt

• removing uncertainty', 'idaṁ sarvam': 'all this, the entire matter', 'pitāmaha': 'Grandfather

• an address to Bhīṣma', 'yathāśruti': 'according to śruti (Vedic revelation)

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Pitāmaha (Bhīṣma)
• Śruti (Vedic revelation)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse models a dhārmic method of inquiry: when a topic seems profound and confusing, one should seek clarification from a qualified elder/teacher and ask for an explanation grounded in śruti (authoritative revelation), aiming at the removal of doubt rather than mere debate.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira, engaged in a dialogue on dharma with Bhīṣma (addressed as Pitāmaha), admits that the subject has become increasingly difficult the more he reflects on it. He requests Bhīṣma to explain the matter clearly and decisively, in accordance with Vedic teaching, so his uncertainty can be resolved.