Shloka 2

Devanagari script

तमतिक्रम्य नागेन्द्रो मतिमान्‌ स नरेश्वर । प्रोवाच मधुरं वाक्यं प्रकृत्या धर्मवत्सल:

Transliteration

tam atikramya nāgendro matimān sa nareśvara | provāca madhuraṃ vākyaṃ prakṛtyā dharmavatsalaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: Having passed beyond him, the wise lord of serpents addressed the king with gentle words—one who, by his very nature, was devoted to dharma.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अतिक्रम्य: having passed/overstepped
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-क्रम्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• नागेन्द्रः: the lord of serpents
• नागेन्द्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मतिमान्: intelligent, wise
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मतिमत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• नरेश्वर: O lord of men (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरेश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• प्रोवाच: said, spoke forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मधुरम्: sweet, pleasant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वाक्यम्: speech, words
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रकृत्या: by nature, naturally
• प्रकृत्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• धर्मवत्सलः: fond of dharma, devoted to righteousness
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मवत्सल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• nareśvara (the king, addressed)
• nāgendra (lord of serpents)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical communication: a truly dharma-loving person speaks with gentleness and sweetness, especially when addressing a ruler. Wisdom is shown not only in intent but also in the manner of speech.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates that the nāga-chief, after moving past someone (tam atikramya), turns to the king and speaks in a pleasing, gentle manner, emphasizing his innate devotion to dharma.