Shloka 59

Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa

Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results

Devanagari script

अबुद्धिपतितेनाथ नादेन विपुलेन सा । वित्रस्तोदभ्रान्तनयना गंगा विख्बुतलोचना,उस आकस्मिक महान्‌ सिंहनादसे भयभीत हुई गंगाजीकी आँखें घूमने लगीं और उनके नेत्रोंस आँसू बहने लगा

Transliteration

abuddhipatitena atha nādena vipulena sā | vitrastodbhrāntanayanā gaṅgā vikṣubdhalocanā ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “Then, struck by a sudden, overwhelming roar that seemed to confound the mind, Ganga was seized with fear. Her eyes whirled in panic, her gaze became agitated, and tears welled up.”

Word by Word

• अबुद्धि: by/with lack of understanding, unwittingly
• अबुद्धि: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अबुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• पतितेन: fallen, having occurred
• पतितेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पतित (कृदन्त; √पत्)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अथ: then, now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• नादेन: by a roar/sound
• नादेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• विपुलेन: great, vast, loud
• विपुलेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• सा: she (that woman)
• सा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• वित्रस्ता: terrified
• वित्रस्ता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वित्रस्त (कृदन्त; √त्रस्)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• उद्भ्रान्त: whirling, rolling (about)
• उद्भ्रान्त: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्भ्रान्त (कृदन्त; √भ्रम्)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• नयना: two eyes
• नयना: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Dual

• गङ्गा: Ganga
• गङ्गा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• विक्लब: agitated, trembling, distraught
• विक्लब: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विक्लब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• लोचना: two eyes
• लोचना: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Gaṅgā

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the disruptive power of sudden, overwhelming stimuli: when fear strikes unexpectedly, even a revered figure may lose composure. Ethically, it invites reflection on steadiness of mind (dhairya) and the need to cultivate inner stability amid shocks.

What is happening in the narrative?

A tremendous roar is heard. Ganga becomes frightened; her eyes whirl in confusion and her gaze is disturbed, with tears welling—an immediate physical portrayal of panic and alarm.