Shloka 29

Nakula–Śakuni Duel and the Night Battle; Śikhaṇḍin–Kṛpa Engagement (नकुल-शकुनियुद्धं तथा रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

तावदीर्घेण कालेन ब्रह्मलोकपुरस्कृतो

Transliteration

tāvad dīrgheṇa kālena brahmalokapuraskṛto

Translation

Sañjaya said: “After that, in the course of a long time, he came to be honored as one who had Brahmaloka set before him—his destiny and merit pointing toward the world of Brahmā.”

Word by Word

• तावत्: so long; for that much (time)
• तावत्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत्
• Form: Avyaya (quantitative/temporal adverb)

• दीर्घेण: by/with (a) long
• दीर्घेण: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• कालेन: by time; over time
• कालेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• ब्रह्मलोकपुरस्कृतः: having Brahmaloka in front; preceded by Brahmaloka
• ब्रह्मलोकपुरस्कृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मलोकपुरस्कृत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Brahmaloka (world of Brahmā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line underscores the Mahābhārata’s moral-cosmic framework: over time, actions and merit mature into their results, and a person’s ultimate ‘foremost’ destination (here, Brahmaloka) reflects accumulated dharma and spiritual attainment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya continues his report by marking a passage of time and indicating that the subject of the narration becomes associated with, or destined for, Brahmaloka—suggesting honor, elevation, or a posthumous/spiritual culmination.