Shloka 4

Devanagari script

ततो राजा महातेजा धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिर: । अब्रवीत्‌ प्राञ्जलिर्भीष्म॑ प्रतिपूज्य यथाविधि,तब महातेजस्वी राजा धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने भीष्मजीका विधिपूर्वक पूजन करके उनसे दोनों हाथ जोड़कर कहा

Transliteration

tato rājā mahātejā dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | abravīt prāñjalir bhīṣmaṃ pratipūjya yathāvidhi ||

Translation

Then King Yudhiṣṭhira, the radiant upholder of dharma, having duly honored Bhīṣma according to proper rite, spoke to him with hands joined in reverence—signaling humility, ethical seriousness, and readiness to receive instruction on righteous conduct after the devastation of war.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

राजाthe king

महातेजाःof great splendor

धर्मराजःthe king of dharma (Dharmaraja)

युधिष्ठिरःYudhishthira

अब्रवीत्said, spoke

प्राञ्जलिःwith joined palms

भीष्मम्Bhishma

प्रतिपूज्यhaving duly honored

यथाविधिaccording to rule, as prescribed

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Yudhiṣṭhira

Bhīṣma

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?

Ethical learning begins with humility and proper reverence: Yudhiṣṭhira approaches Bhīṣma respectfully and according to prescribed conduct, indicating that dharma is received through disciplined, respectful inquiry rather than pride or mere power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira, after ritually honoring Bhīṣma, addresses him with folded hands—setting the stage for Bhīṣma’s extended teachings in the Śānti Parva on righteous rule, duty, and moral order after the war.