Shloka 35

Devanagari script

साक्षिभूता महात्मानो भुवनानां प्रभावना: । एवमेते महात्मान: स्थिता: प्रत्येकशो दिशम्‌,इस प्रकार प्रत्येक दिशामें रहनेवाले सम्पूर्ण तेजस्वी महर्षियोंका वर्णन किया गया। ये महात्मा सम्पूर्ण लोकोंकी सृष्टि करनेमें समर्थ एवं सबके साक्षी हैं। इनका हृदय बड़ा विशाल है। इस तरह ये प्रत्येक दिशामें निवास करते हैं

Transliteration

sākṣibhūtā mahātmāno bhuvanānāṁ prabhāvanāḥ | evam ete mahātmānaḥ sthitāḥ pratyekaśo diśam ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “These great-souled sages stand as witnesses to all, endowed with the power that sustains and brings forth the worlds. Thus have the illustrious seers been described—each abiding in his own direction—vast of heart, established in their stations, and overseeing the order of creation.”

Word by Word

• {'sākṣibhūtāḥ': 'having become witnesses

• serving as impartial observers', 'mahātmānaḥ': 'great-souled ones

• exalted sages', 'bhuvanānām': 'of the worlds

• of the realms of existence', 'prabhāvanāḥ': 'powerful in manifestation

• capable of sustaining/bringing forth (the worlds)', 'evam': 'thus

• in this manner', 'ete': 'these', 'sthitāḥ': 'standing

• abiding', 'pratyekaśaḥ': 'severally

• each in his own way/portion', 'diśam': 'in a direction

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• mahātmānaḥ (great sages)
• bhuvanāni (the worlds)
• diśaḥ (the directions/quarters)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and metaphysical idea that great sages function as impartial witnesses and stabilizing powers within the cosmos—each stationed in a specific quarter—supporting dharma by their presence, insight, and vast-heartedness.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva, Bhishma continues a structured description of exalted seers associated with the directions. This verse serves as a summary statement: the sages have been enumerated as radiant, world-sustaining, and witness-like beings, each abiding in his respective direction.