Shloka 1

Adhyāya 223: Nāradasya Guṇa-kathana

Catalogue of Nārada’s Virtues

Devanagari script

(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके ४५६३ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ८२३ *लोक हैं) #िफमशा (0) आज अत +- त्रयोविशर्त्याधेकद्विशततमो< ध्याय: इन्द्र और बलिका संवाद--इन्द्रके आक्षेपयुक्त वचनोंका बलिके द्वारा कठोर प्रत्युत्तर युधिछिर उवाच यथा बुद्धया महीपालो भ्रष्टश्रीविचरेन्महीम्‌ | कालदण्डविनिष्पिष्टस्तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह

Transliteration

Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca:

Yathā buddhyā mahīpālo bhraṣṭaśrī vicaren mahīm |

Kāladaṇḍa-viniṣpiṣṭas tan me brūhi pitāmaha ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Grandfather, tell me this: how does a king, having lost his royal fortune and splendor, wander over the earth in his right understanding—when he has been crushed by the rod of Time?”

Word by Word

• {'yathā': 'how

• in what manner', 'buddhyā': 'with understanding

• with discernment (instrumental of buddhi)', 'mahīpālaḥ': 'protector of the earth

• king', 'bhraṣṭa-śrīḥ': 'one whose śrī (fortune, prosperity, splendor) has fallen away

• ruined in fortune', 'vicaret': 'should move about

• should conduct himself', 'mahīm': 'the earth

• the land (accusative)', 'kāla': 'Time (as a cosmic power)', 'daṇḍa': 'rod

• chastisement', 'viniṣpiṣṭaḥ': 'crushed

• utterly oppressed', 'tat': 'that (matter)', 'me': 'to me

• for me', 'brūhi': 'tell

• explain', 'pitāmaha': 'grandfather (address to Bhīṣma)'}

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Pitāmaha (Bhīṣma)
• Kāla (Time)
• Daṇḍa (the rod/punitive force)
• Mahī (Earth)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical inquiry: when prosperity and power collapse under the force of Time, a ruler’s true dharma is tested—how to retain discernment, restraint, and right conduct even in defeat and dispossession.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma, asking for guidance about the proper mental and moral stance of a king who has lost his fortune and is overwhelmed by Time’s chastisement—introducing the ensuing instruction (linked in this adhyāya to the Indra–Bali discourse).