Shloka 55

बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account

On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics

Devanagari script

ततस्तु दानवानीकं सम्प्रणेतारमच्युतम्‌

Transliteration

tatastu dānavānīkaṃ sampranetāram acyutam

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “Then, the host of the Dānavas advanced, with Acyuta as its commander and guide.”

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter; then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततस्
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from that/thereafter')

• तु: but; indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु
• Form: Avyaya (particle)

• दानवानीकम्: the army/host of the Dānavas (demons)
• दानवानीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव + अनीक
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular

• सम्प्रणेतारम्: the leader/commander
• सम्प्रणेतारम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्-प्र-नी (धातु) → सम्प्रणेतृ
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

• अच्युतम्: Acyuta (Krishna)
• अच्युतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत
• Form: Masculine, accusative, singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Dānavas
• Acyuta

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line foregrounds the ethical weight of leadership in conflict: an army’s direction and outcome hinge on its commander (sampranetā). By naming the leader as “Acyuta,” it also evokes steadiness and unfailing resolve as a defining quality of rightful guidance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates a martial episode in which the Dānavas’ forces move forward in formation, led by a figure called Acyuta, indicating the commencement or escalation of a battle sequence.