Shloka 4

बहुमानपरस्तेषु भगवन्‌ यान्‌ नमस्यसि । शव्यं चेच्छोतुमस्माभिर््रह्वेतद्‌ धर्मवित्तम,'प्रभो! धर्मात्माओंमें श्रेष्ठ नारदजी! आपके हृदयमें जिनके प्रति बहुत बड़ा आदर है तथा आप भी जिनके सामने मस्तक झुकाते हैं, वे कौन हैं? यदि हमें सुनाना उचित समझें तो आप उन पूज्य पुरुषोंका परिचय दीजिये”

bhīṣma uvāca | bahumānaparas teṣu bhagavan yān namasyasi | śavyaṃ cec chrotum asmābhir rahv etad dharmavittama ||

Bhīṣma dijo: «Oh venerable, ¿hacia quiénes guardas tan gran respeto—aquellos ante quienes tú mismo inclinas la cabeza? Si juzgas apropiado que lo oigamos, oh conocedor del dharma, revela este asunto profundo e indícanos quiénes son esos hombres dignos.»

बहुमानपरःhaving great respect (devoted in honor)
बहुमानपरः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootबहुमानपर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तेषुtowards/among those
तेषु:
Adhikarana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural
भगवन्O venerable one
भगवन्:
TypeNoun
Rootभगवत्
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
यान्whom
यान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
नमस्यसिyou bow to / you worship
नमस्यसि:
TypeVerb
Rootनमस् (नमस्यति)
FormPresent, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada
शव्यम्proper / fitting
शव्यम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootशव्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
चेत्if
चेत्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootचेत्
श्रोतुम्to hear
श्रोतुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु
FormTumun (infinitive)
अस्माभिःby us / for us (as hearers)
अस्माभिः:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
Form—, Instrumental, Plural
ब्रूहिtell (me/us)
ब्रूहि:
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू
FormImperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada
एतत्this
एतत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
धर्मवित्तम्knower of dharma
धर्मवित्तम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधर्मवित्त
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma (Bhīṣma)
N
Narada (Nārada)

Educational Q&A

The verse foregrounds dharmic humility: even the revered seek guidance about whom to honor. It frames reverence (namas) as an ethical act grounded in discernment—learning who truly deserves respect and why.

Bhishma addresses the sage Narada, asking him to identify the exalted persons for whom Narada feels deep respect and to whom he bows. Bhishma requests, if appropriate, that Narada reveal this ‘profound matter’ and introduce those venerable figures.