Shloka 1

इस प्रकार श्रीमह्ा भारत शान्तिपर्वके अन्तर्गत आपद्धर्मपर्वमें पवन-शाल्मलिसंवादविषयक एक सौ पचपनवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ ॥/ १५५ ॥/ #त-८5 >> श््मु # >> षट्पज्चाशर्दाधेकशततमो< ध्याय: नारदजीकी बात सुनकर वायुका सेमलको धमकाना और सेमलका वायुको तिरस्कृत करके विचारमग्न होना भीष्म उवाच एवमुक्त्वा तु राजेन्द्र शाल्मलिं ब्रह्म॒वित्तम: । नारद: पवने सर्व शाल्मलेवॉक्यमब्रवीत्‌,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजेन्द्र! सेमलसे ऐसा कहकर ब्रह्मवेत्ताओंमें श्रेष्ठ नारदजीने वायुदेवके पास आकर उसकी सब बातें कह सुनायीं

Bhīṣma uvāca: evam uktvā tu rājendra śālmalīṃ brahmavittamaḥ | nāradaḥ pavane sarvaṃ śālmalī-vākyam abravīt ||

Bhīṣma said: “O king, having spoken thus to the Śālmalī tree, Nārada—foremost among knowers of Brahman—went to Vāyu and reported to him in full the words spoken by Śālmalī.”

भीष्मःBhishma
भीष्मः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभीष्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect, Third, Singular
एवम्thus
एवम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम्
उक्त्वाhaving said
उक्त्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormAbsolutive (ktvā), Active
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
राजेन्द्रO king of kings
राजेन्द्र:
TypeNoun
Rootराजेन्द्र
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
शाल्मलिम्Shalmali (the silk-cotton tree / personified Shalmali)
शाल्मलिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशाल्मलि
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
ब्रह्मवित्तमःthe best of knowers of Brahman
ब्रह्मवित्तमः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootब्रह्मवित्तम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
नारदःNarada
नारदः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनारद
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पवनेin/near the Wind (to Vayu)
पवने:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootपवन
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
सर्वम्all (of it)
सर्वम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
शाल्मलेःof Shalmali
शाल्मलेः:
TypeNoun
Rootशाल्मलि
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
वाक्यम्speech/statement
वाक्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवाक्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अब्रवीत्told/said
अब्रवीत्:
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू
FormImperfect, Third, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
Y
Yudhiṣṭhira (implied by rājendra)
N
Nārada
V
Vāyu (Pavana)
Ś
Śālmalī (tree)

Educational Q&A

The verse frames ethical evaluation through mediation: instead of immediate retaliation, speech is carried and examined. It points toward dharma as measured conduct—especially restraint and humility—rather than mere power.

After speaking to the Śālmalī tree, the sage Nārada goes to Vāyu (Pavana) and recounts everything the tree said, setting up Vāyu’s response and the ensuing moral confrontation.