Shloka 17

Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa

Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results

Devanagari script

जगत्पतिरनिर्देश्य: सर्वग: सर्वभावन: । हृच्छय: सर्वभूतानां ज्येष्ठो रुद्रादपि प्रभु:

Transliteration

jagatpatir anirdeśyaḥ sarvagaḥ sarvabhāvanaḥ | hṛcchayaḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ jyeṣṭho rudrād api prabhuḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: The Lord of the universe is beyond precise description; He pervades all and brings forth all states of being. Dwelling in the hearts of every creature, He is the most ancient and supreme—greater even than Rudra in sovereignty.

Word by Word

• जगत्पतिः: lord of the world
• जगत्पतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + पति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अनिर्देश्यः: indescribable; not to be indicated/defined
• अनिर्देश्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिर्देश्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वगः: all-pervading; going everywhere
• सर्वगः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वभावनः: creator/sustainer of all beings; one who brings forth all
• सर्वभावनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वभावन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हृच्छयः: dweller in the heart
• हृच्छयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् + शय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वभूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्वभूतानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भूत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• ज्येष्ठः: eldest; greatest; foremost
• ज्येष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रुद्रात्: than Rudra; from Rudra
• रुद्रात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• अपि: even; also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• प्रभुः: lord; master
• प्रभुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Jagatpati (the Lord of the universe)
• Rudra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that the highest Lord is both transcendent (indescribable) and immanent (present in every heart), the ultimate source and ruler of all existence; recognizing this supports a dharmic life grounded in devotion and humility.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma continues his instruction on dharma and sacred duties; here he offers a praise-description of the Supreme Lord, emphasizing divine omnipresence and supremacy even over great deities like Rudra.