Shloka 11

Devanagari script

ततः स विप्र: कृतकर्मनिश्चय: कृताभ्यनुज्ञ: स्वजनेन धर्मकृत्‌ । यथोपदिष्टं भुजगेन्द्रसंश्रयं जगाम काले सुकृतैकनिश्चय:

Transliteration

tataḥ sa vipraḥ kṛtakarmaniscayaḥ kṛtābhyanujñaḥ svajanena dharmakṛt | yathopadiṣṭaṃ bhujagendrasaṃśrayaṃ jagāma kāle sukṛtaikaniscayaḥ ||

Translation

Then that brahmin—having firmly resolved to fulfill the duty he had set his heart upon, and having obtained the consent of his own people—set out at the proper time, exactly as the guest had instructed, toward the abode of the lord of serpents. With a steady mind fixed on accomplishing a meritorious purpose, he proceeded in accordance with dharma.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विप्रः: brahmin
• विप्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कृतकर्मनिश्चयः: one whose resolve about the deed was made (firmly resolved to accomplish the task)
• कृतकर्मनिश्चयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतकर्मनिश्चय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कृताभ्यनुज्ञः: having obtained permission (having been permitted)
• कृताभ्यनुज्ञः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृताभ्यनुज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्वजनेन: by/with his own people (kinsmen)
• स्वजनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वजन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• धर्मकृत्: doer of dharma, righteous man
• धर्मकृत्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मकृत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यथा: as, according to
• यथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• उपदिष्टम्: instructed, told
• उपदिष्टम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपदिश्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भुजगेन्द्रसंश्रयम्: the abode/refuge of the serpent-king (Nāgarāja’s dwelling)
• भुजगेन्द्रसंश्रयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुजगेन्द्रसंश्रय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• जगाम: went
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• काले: at the proper time
• काले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सुकृतैकनिश्चयः: one with a single firm resolve for a good deed
• सुकृतैकनिश्चयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुकृतैकनिश्चय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• vipra (brahmin)
• svajana (kinsmen/family)
• atithi (guest, implied by context)
• Bhujagendra / Nāgarāja (lord of serpents)
• bhujagendrasaṃśraya (abode of the serpent-king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is upheld through firm resolve, respectful consultation/consent within one’s household, and faithful adherence to righteous instruction; a meritorious aim (sukṛta) should be pursued at the proper time and in the proper manner.

What is happening in the narrative?

A brahmin, after deciding to complete his intended task and receiving his family’s permission, departs at the appointed time to the dwelling of the serpent-king, following the directions previously given by a guest.