Shloka 101

Bhīṣma’s Śara-śayyā Stuti to Vāsudeva and Yogic Preparation for Dehotsarga

Body-Relinquishment

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच एतावदुकत्वा वचन भीष्मस्तद्गतमानस: । नम इत्येव कृष्णाय प्रणाममकरोत्‌ तदा

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca: etāvad uktvā vacanaṃ bhīṣmas tad-gata-mānasaḥ | nama ity eva kṛṣṇāya praṇāmam akarot tadā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Having spoken only so much, Bhīṣma—his mind wholly fixed upon Kṛṣṇa—then, after completing that praise, uttered “namaḥ to Kṛṣṇa” and bowed in reverence.

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaishampayana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• एतावत्: this much
• एतावत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतावत्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उक्त्वा: having said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Active

• वचनम्: speech, words
• वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तद्गतमानसः: whose mind was fixed on him (Krishna)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद्गतमानस
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नमः: salutation
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस्

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• कृष्णाय: to Krishna
• कृष्णाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• प्रणामम्: bow, obeisance
• प्रणामम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणाम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अकरोत्: did, made
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तदा: then, at that time
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīṣma
• Kṛṣṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That true understanding culminates in humility and devotion: after speaking, Bhīṣma’s mind rests in Kṛṣṇa, and he seals his words with reverent surrender (namaḥ) expressed through praṇāma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates to Janamejaya that Bhīṣma, having finished his preceding praise/instruction, becomes inwardly absorbed in Kṛṣṇa and then formally salutes Him by saying “namaḥ (to) Kṛṣṇa” and bowing.