Shloka 4

Śukasya Janma-yoga-phalaṁ — Vyāsasya Tapasā Putrārthaḥ (Śānti-parva 310)

Devanagari script

याज्ञवल्क्यमृषिश्रेष्ठ॑ दैवरातिर्महायशा: । पप्रच्छ जनको राजा प्रश्न॑ प्रश्नविदां वरम्‌,एक बार देवरातके महायशस्वी पुत्र राजा जनकने प्रश्नबका रहस्य समझनेवालोंमें श्रेष्ठ मुनिवर याज्ञवल्क्यजीसे पूछा

Transliteration

Yājñavalkyam ṛṣiśreṣṭhaṁ Daivarātir mahāyaśāḥ | papraccha Janako rājā praśnaṁ praśnavidāṁ varam ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: The illustrious King Janaka, son of Devarāta, questioned the foremost of sages, Yājñavalkya—best among those who understand questions—seeking to grasp a subtle truth.

Word by Word

• याज्ञवल्क्यम्: Yajnavalkya (as the one addressed/asked)
• याज्ञवल्क्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: याज्ञवल्क्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ऋषिश्रेष्ठम्: best of sages
• ऋषिश्रेष्ठम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषिश्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दैवरातिः: Daivarati (Janaka)
• दैवरातिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवराति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महायशाः: of great fame
• महायशाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महायशस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular

• जनकः: Janaka
• जनकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रश्नम्: a question
• प्रश्नम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रश्न
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रश्नविदाम्: of the knowers of questions (i.e., of those skilled in inquiry)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रश्नविद्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वरम्: the best (one)
• वरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Yājñavalkya
• Janaka
• Devarāta (implied via Daivarāti)