Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

तेषामन्तर्गत॑ ज्ञात्वा देवानां स पितामह:

Transliteration

teṣām antargataṃ jñātvā devānāṃ sa pitāmahaḥ

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “Having understood what lay within them—the inner intent and condition of the gods—Pitāmaha (Brahmā) acted with that insight, guiding the course of events in accordance with cosmic order and right conduct.”

Word by Word

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

• अन्तर्गतं: entered within / included (inside)
• अन्तर्गतं: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर्गत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पितामहः: the grandsire (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• Devas (the gods)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Right action is grounded in true understanding: when the inner reality (antargata) of beings is known, guidance and decisions can align with dharma and the larger cosmic order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates that Pitāmaha (Brahmā), perceiving the gods’ inner situation or intention, proceeds accordingly—implying a decisive intervention or direction based on insight rather than appearances.