Shloka 156

Devanagari script

कि नु तत्‌ कारणं मन्ये येनाहं भवतः प्रिय:

Transliteration

ki nu tat kāraṇaṃ manye yenāhaṃ bhavataḥ priyaḥ

Translation

Bhishma said: “What, indeed, do I consider to be the reason by which I have become dear to you?”

Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative, singular

• नु: indeed/then (interrogative emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नु

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative, singular

• कारणम्: cause/reason
• कारणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative, singular

• मन्ये: I think/suppose
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (मन्यते)
• Form: lat, ātmanepada, present indicative, 1st, singular

• येन: by which/whereby
• येन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: neuter, instrumental, singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अहम्
• Form: common, nominative, singular

• भवतः: of you/your (hon.)
• Type: Pronoun (honorific)
• Root: भवत्
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• प्रियः: dear/beloved
• प्रियः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line models ethical self-inquiry and humility: Bhīṣma does not assume he deserves affection or esteem, but asks for the underlying cause—implying that true regard should rest on discernible virtues such as conduct, service, truthfulness, and adherence to dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma speaks within a dialogue and poses a reflective question to his interlocutor, asking why he is considered dear—setting up an explanation of the qualities or actions that earn trust and affection in a dharmic relationship.