Shloka 4

अध्याय १७८ — प्राणवायुगतिः तथा शारीराग्निव्यवस्था

Adhyāya 178 — The courses of prāṇa-vāyu and the regulation of the bodily fire

Devanagari script

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्‌ । निर्वेदान्मड़किना गीतं तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर

Transliteration

atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | nirvedān maḍakinā gītaṃ tan nibodha yudhiṣṭhira ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “Here too, they cite an ancient precedent as an illustration. Listen, Yudhiṣṭhira: it is a saying sung by the sage Maḍakī out of dispassion. I shall relate that old account to you.”

Word by Word

• {'atra api': 'here also

• in this matter too', 'udāharanti': 'they cite

• they adduce as an example', 'imam': 'this', 'itihāsam': 'ancient narrative

• traditional account (didactic story)', 'purātanam': 'ancient

• of old', 'nirvedāt': 'from dispassion

• from weariness toward worldly enjoyment', 'maḍakinā': 'by Maḍakī (name of a sage)', 'gītam': 'sung

• a lyrical utterance', 'tat': 'that', 'nibodha': 'understand

• take note', 'yudhiṣṭhira': 'Yudhiṣṭhira (addressed directly)'}

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Yudhishthira
• Maḍakī (sage)
• itihāsa (ancient exemplum)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Ethical instruction is strengthened through precedent: true wisdom often begins with nirveda (disenchantment with pleasures), which turns the mind toward restraint and higher dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma introduces a traditional illustrative tale. He tells Yudhiṣṭhira that a sage named Maḍakī, having become dispassionate toward enjoyments, voiced a memorable utterance; Bhīṣma is about to recount that account as guidance.