Shloka 3

Gautama–Yama Saṃvāda: Mātṛ-Pitṛ-Ṛṇa (Debt to Parents) and Śubha-Loka Attainment

Devanagari script

स पूजामृषिभिर्दत्तां सम्प्रगृह्ा नराधिप: । अपृच्छत्‌ तापसान्‌ सर्वास्तपसो वृद्धिमुत्तमाम्‌

Transliteration

sa pūjām ṛṣibhir dattāṃ sampragṛhya narādhipaḥ | apṛcchat tāpasān sarvān tapaso vṛddhim uttamām ||

Translation

Having respectfully accepted the honor and hospitality bestowed by the sages, the king questioned all the ascetics about the highest increase of their austerities—how their spiritual discipline was truly flourishing.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पूजाम्: honour, reception
• पूजाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्री, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ऋषिभिः: by the sages
• ऋषिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• दत्ताम्: given
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्री, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सम्प्रगृह्य: having accepted
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + प्र + ग्रह् (धातु) → सम्प्रगृह्य (क्त्वान्त अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वा/ल्यप् (absolutive)

• नराधिपः: the king (lord of men)
• नराधिपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपृच्छत्: asked
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथम, एकवचन

• तापसान्: the ascetics
• तापसान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तापस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• सर्वान्: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तपसः: of austerity
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुं, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वृद्धिम्: increase, progress
• वृद्धिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्री, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उत्तमाम्: excellent, best
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्री, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• the king (narādhipa)
• sages (ṛṣi)
• ascetics (tāpasa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A righteous ruler should honor the spiritually disciplined and actively inquire into their welfare and progress in tapas; reverence (pūjā) and thoughtful questioning are portrayed as aspects of dharmic kingship.

What is happening in the narrative?

After receiving hospitality from sages, the king accepts it respectfully and then asks the assembled ascetics how their austerities are flourishing—seeking news of their spiritual advancement.