Shloka 57

Viśvāmitra-janma: Ṛcīka–Satyavatī–Gādhi and the Charu Exchange (विश्वामित्र-जन्म: ऋचीक–सत्यवती–गाधि वृत्तान्तः)

Devanagari script

मार्दमर्षिररिरिण्याक्षो जड़ारिबाश्रिवायणि: | भूतिर्विभूति: सूतश्न सुरकृत्‌ तु तथैव च

Transliteration

mārdamarṣir aririṇyākṣo jaḍāribāśrivāyaṇiḥ | bhūtir vibhūtiḥ sūtaśna surakṛt tu tathaiva ca ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “(He is known by these names:) Mārdamarṣi, Aririṇyākṣa, Jaḍāribāśrivāyaṇi, Bhūti, Vibhūti, Sūtaśna, and likewise Surakṛt.”

Word by Word

• मार्दम्: softness, gentleness
• मार्दम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• ऋषिः: sage
• ऋषिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अरिः: enemy
• अरिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ऋण्याक्षः: one whose eyes are (like) debt/obligation (epithet; obscure)
• ऋण्याक्षः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋण्याक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जडः: dull, inert
• जडः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अरिः: enemy
• अरिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आश्रिवायणिः: Āśrivāyaṇi (proper name/epithet; obscure)
• आश्रिवायणिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रिवायणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भूतिः: prosperity, welfare
• भूतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• विभूतिः: great power, manifestation, glory
• विभूतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सूतश्नः: one who destroys/strikes the charioteer (epithet; obscure)
• सूतश्नः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूतश्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुरकृत्: maker/benefactor of the gods; doer of good
• सुरकृत्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरकृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but, and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• तथा: thus, so
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

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

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Mārdamarṣi
• Aririṇyākṣa
• Jaḍāribāśrivāyaṇi
• Bhūti
• Vibhūti
• Sūtaśna
• Surakṛt

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse models a dharmic practice of remembering the divine through many epithets: each name evokes a virtue or auspicious power, and recitation becomes an ethical discipline that cultivates reverence, steadiness, and alignment with righteousness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is in the midst of a formal enumeration of sacred names (a litany of epithets). This verse continues the list, adding several appellations that highlight prosperity, divine manifestation, and beneficent action.