Shloka 21

Prajñā as Pratiṣṭhā — Indra–Kāśyapa Saṃvāda (Śānti-parva 12.173)

Devanagari script

इत्यूचुस्ते महाराज राक्षसेन्द्रं निशाचरा: । शिरोभशि: प्रणता: सर्वे व्याहरन्‌ राक्षसधिपम्‌

Transliteration

ity ūcus te mahārāja rākṣasendraṃ niśācarāḥ | śirobhis praṇatāḥ sarve vyāharan rākṣasadhipam ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “O great king, having spoken thus, all those night-roaming rākṣasas bowed their heads in submission and addressed their lord, the king of the rākṣasas.”

Word by Word

इतिthus

ऊचुःsaid

तेthey

महाराजO great king

राक्षसेन्द्रम्the lord of the Rakshasas

निशाचराःnight-roamers (Rakshasas)

शिरोभिःwith (their) heads

प्रणताःbowed down, prostrated

सर्वेall

व्याहरन्uttered, spoke

राक्षसधिपम्the ruler of the Rakshasas

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Mahārāja (addressed king, i.e., Yudhiṣṭhira in context)

Rākṣasendra (lord of the rākṣasas)

Niśācarāḥ (rākṣasas/night-roamers)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights social and political order: even fierce beings like rākṣasas observe hierarchy and protocol—speaking to their leader only after bowing—implying that disciplined conduct and respect for authority are foundational to any organized community.

What is happening in the narrative?

After making a statement (from the preceding context), the assembled niśācaras (rākṣasas) collectively bow their heads and then address their ruler, the rākṣasa-lord, indicating a formal audience or counsel before their king.