Shloka 6

Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)

Devanagari script

अथाभ्यगच्छन्‌ देवास्ते पितामहमरिंदम

Transliteration

athābhyagacchan devāste pitāmaham ariṃdama

Translation

Then those gods approached the Grandsire (Pitāmaha—Brahmā)—O Bhīṣma, subduer of foes—marking the moment when divine authority turned toward the elder’s moral stature and counsel.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अभ्यगच्छन्: approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-गम्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• पितामहम्: the grandsire (Brahmā)
• पितामहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अरिंदम्: subduer of foes
• अरिंदम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरिंदम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma (Pitāmaha)
• the gods (Devāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the ethical authority of a venerable elder: even divine beings seek out the Pitāmaha, implying that dharma is clarified through reverence for wisdom, seniority, and rightful counsel.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates that the gods came and approached the Grandsire (Bhīṣma himself), setting up a forthcoming exchange in which divine figures engage him, typically to request, affirm, or facilitate instruction on dharma.