Shloka 94

Devanagari script

आप वृष ([वृष्टिकर्ता), वृष्य (धर्मकी वृद्धि करनेवाले), गोवृष (नन्दी) और वृष (धर्म) आदि नामोंसे प्रसिद्ध हैं। कटंकट (नित्य गतिशील), दण्ड (शासक) और पचपच (सम्पूर्ण भूतोंको पचानेवाला काल) भी आपके ही नाम हैं। आपको नमस्कार है ।। नम: सर्ववरिष्ठाय वराय वरदाय च । वरमाल्यगन्धवस्त्राय वरातिवरदे नमः:,आप सबसे श्रेष्ठ वरस्वरूप और वरदाता हैं। उत्तम वस्त्र, माल्य और गन्ध धारण करते हैं तथा भक्तको इच्छानुसार एवं उससे भी अधिक वर देनेवाले हैं। आपको प्रणाम है

Transliteration

āpa vṛṣa (vṛṣṭikartā), vṛṣya (dharmakī vṛddhi karanevāle), govṛṣa (nandī) aura vṛṣa (dharma) ādi nāmoṃ se prasiddha haiṃ. kaṭaṅkaṭa (nitya gatiśīla), daṇḍa (śāsaka) aura pacapaca (sampūrṇa bhūtoṃ ko pacānevālā kāla) bhī āpake hī nāma haiṃ. āpako namaskāra hai. namaḥ sarvavariṣṭhāya varāya varadāya ca | varamālyagandhavastrāya varātivarade namaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: You are renowned by names such as Vṛṣa—the giver of rain, Vṛṣya—the one who increases dharma, Govṛṣa—Nandī, and Vṛṣa—Dharma itself. Kaṭaṅkaṭa, ever in motion; Daṇḍa, the ruler who disciplines; and Pacapaca, Time that ‘cooks’ and consumes all beings—these too are your names. Salutations to you. Homage to the most excellent of all, to the Supreme, to the giver of boons; to the one adorned with splendid garments, garlands, and fragrance; homage to the grantor of boons beyond boons, who gives the devotee what is desired and even more.

Word by Word

नमःsalutation; homage

सर्व-वरिष्ठायto the best of all

वरायto the excellent one; to the श्रेष्ठ

वरदायto the giver of boons

चand

वर-माल्य-गन्ध-वस्त्रायto (him) of excellent garlands, fragrances, and garments

वर-अति-वरदेO giver of boons beyond (all) boons; exceedingly boon-giving

नमःsalutation; homage

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Nandī

Dharma

Kāla (Time)

Daṇḍa (royal punishment/authority)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames the deity as the source of cosmic order (Dharma), governance and moral restraint (Daṇḍa), and inevitable transformation/consumption (Kāla). Ethically, it teaches that righteousness, just discipline, and acceptance of time’s supremacy are all facets of the same higher principle worthy of reverence.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs and consoles after the war, often turning to theological reflection. Here he offers a stuti (praise) by reciting divine names and functions—rain-giver, increaser of dharma, Nandī-associated, ruler through punishment, and Time itself—culminating in salutations to the supreme boon-giver adorned with divine garments, garlands, and fragrance.