Shloka 11

Indratīrtha–Ādityatīrtha: Balarāma’s Ritual Bathing, Dāna, and Sacred-Historical Recollections

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तो भगवान्‌ देव: स्मयन्निव निरीक्ष्य ताम्‌ उवाच निय मं ज्ञात्वा सांत्वयन्निव भारत

Transliteration

ity ukto bhagavān devaḥ smayann iva nirīkṣya tām uvāca niyamaṃ jñātvā sāntvayann iva bhārata

Translation

Thus addressed, the blessed god Indra looked at her as though smiling; understanding the discipline of her vow, he spoke—seeming to console her—O Bhārata.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• उक्तः: having been spoken to / addressed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भगवान्: the blessed lord
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• देवः: the god (Indra)
• देवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्मयन्: smiling
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मि
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• निरीक्ष्य: having looked at
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-ईक्ष्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: लिट् (perfect), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• नियमम्: vow / observance / rule
• नियमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)

• सान्त्वयन्: comforting / consoling
• Type: Verb
• Root: सान्त्वय्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• भारत: O Bharata (address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Indra
• Śrutāvatī

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights respect for niyama (self-imposed discipline or vow): even a powerful deity responds with understanding and gentle reassurance, implying that sincere restraint and ethical resolve deserve recognition and compassionate guidance.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Śrutāvatī speaks, Indra observes her with a faint smile, comprehends the nature of her vow/discipline, and then replies in a consoling manner, as narrated by Vaiśampāyana.