Shloka 16

मातङ्ग–शक्रसंवादः

Mataṅga–Śakra Dialogue on Tapas, Status, and Moral Qualities

Devanagari script

महाभाग्यं पर॑ं तेषामृषीणामनुचिन्त्य ते । पाण्डवा: सह भीष्मेण कथाश्षक्रुस्तदाश्रया:,उन महर्षियोंके महान्‌ सौभाग्यका चिन्तन करके पाण्डव भीष्मजीके साथ उन्हींके सम्बन्धमें बातें करने लगे

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

mahābhāgyaṁ paraṁ teṣām ṛṣīṇām anucintya te |

pāṇḍavāḥ saha bhīṣmeṇa kathāś cakrus tadāśrayāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Reflecting upon the supreme good fortune of those sages, the Pāṇḍavas, together with Bhīṣma, began to speak about matters connected with them, grounding their conversation in that very theme.

Word by Word

• महाभाग्यम्: great good fortune
• महाभाग्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• परम्: supreme, highest
• परम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• ऋषीणाम्: of the sages
• ऋषीणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अनुचिन्त्य: having reflected upon
• अनुचिन्त्य: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-चिन्त्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पाण्डवाः: the Pandavas
• पाण्डवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सह: together with
• सह: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह

• भीष्मेण: with Bhishma
• भीष्मेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• कथाः: talks, discussions
• कथाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• चक्रुः: they did/made
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आश्रयाः: resting on that; concerning that
• आश्रयाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आश्रय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pāṇḍavas
• Bhīṣma
• Ṛṣis (sages)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic habit of mind: to contemplate the exemplary blessedness of sages and let that reflection guide one’s speech and inquiry. Ethical learning begins with reverent consideration of those who embody restraint, insight, and right conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that the Pāṇḍavas, seated with Bhīṣma, reflect on the sages’ supreme good fortune and then begin a discussion centered on those sages and related matters—setting the stage for further instruction and discourse.