Shloka 3

Devanagari script

भार्गवेणापि राजेन्द्र जनकस्य निवेशने । कथैषा कथिता पुण्या नारदाय महात्मने,राजेन्द्र! च्यवनने भी राजा जनकके दरबारमें महात्मा नारदजीसे यह पवित्र कथा कही

Transliteration

bhārgaveṇāpi rājendra janakasya niveśane | kathaiṣā kathitā puṇyā nāradāya mahātmane ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: O king, this sacred tale was also narrated by the Bhārgava sage in King Janaka’s royal residence, to the great-souled sage Nārada.

Word by Word

भार्गवेणby Bhargava (Cyavana)

अपिalso/even

राजेन्द्रO king of kings

जनकस्यof Janaka

निवेशनेin the residence/assembly (court)

कथाstory/tale

एषाthis

कथिताwas told/related

पुण्याholy/meritorious

नारदायto Narada

महात्मनेto the great-souled one

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Bhārgava (sage of Bhṛgu lineage)

Janaka

Nārada

Janaka’s residence/royal court (niveśana)

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 emphasizes the credibility and sanctity of dharma-teachings by pointing to their respected transmission: a ‘puṇyā kathā’ is validated by being taught by eminent sages (Bhārgava) in renowned settings (Janaka’s court) to authoritative recipients (Nārada).

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma, while instructing the king, introduces or supports a teaching by citing precedent: the same sacred account was earlier narrated by the Bhārgava sage in King Janaka’s court to the sage Nārada, indicating an established tradition behind the discourse.