Shloka 7

Gratitude, Discernment, and the Escalation of Power (Śvā–Dvipī–Vyāghra–Nāga–Siṃha–Śarabha Itihāsa)

Devanagari script

ते सुखप्रश्नदा: सर्वे भवन्ति क्षतजाशना: । तस्यर्षे: शिष्यवच्चैव न्यग्भूता: प्रियकारिण:,यद्यपि वे सारे-के-सारे मांसाहारी हिंसक जानवर थे, तो भी उस ऋषिके शिष्यकी भाँति नीचे सिर किये उनके पास बैठते थे, उनके सुख और स्वास्थ्यकी बात पूछते थे और सदा उनका प्रिय करते थे

Transliteration

te sukhapraśnadāḥ sarve bhavanti kṣatajāśanāḥ | tasyarṣeḥ śiṣyavac caiva nyagbhūtāḥ priyakāriṇaḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “All of them—though they lived by eating flesh and were creatures of violence—became, in his presence, like disciples of that sage. With heads bowed, they sat near him, asked after his well-being and health, and continually acted in ways that pleased him.”

Word by Word

तेthey (those)

सुख-प्रश्न-दाःaskers of (his) welfare/health

सर्वेall

भवन्तिare / become

क्षतज-अशनाःblood-eaters (carnivorous)

तस्यof him / of that (sage)

ऋषेःof the sage

शिष्यवत्like disciples

चand

एवindeed / just

न्यग्भूताःbent down / with heads lowered

प्रिय-कारिणःdoing what is pleasing (to him)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

an unnamed ṛṣi (sage)

the sage’s disciples (as a comparison)

carnivorous/violent animals or beings (implied by kṣatajāśanāḥ)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Geographic Context

Sandhi Notes