Shloka 3

Devanagari script

बृहस्पतिं देवपतिरभिवाद्य कृताज्जलि: । उपसंगम्य पप्रच्छ वासव: परवीरहा,एक समयकी बात है, शत्रुवीरोंका संहार करनेवाले देवराज इन्द्रने बृहस्पतिजीके पास जा उन्हें हाथ जोड़कर प्रणाम किया और इस प्रकार पूछा

Transliteration

bṛhaspatiṃ devapatir abhivādya kṛtāñjaliḥ | upasaṅgamya papraccha vāsavaḥ paravīrahā ||

Translation

Dijo Bhīṣma: Una vez, Indra—señor de los dioses y matador de los campeones enemigos—se acercó a Bṛhaspati. Tras inclinarse ante él con las palmas juntas en señal de reverencia, Indra se aproximó y, con respeto, le formuló una pregunta, dando inicio al consejo sobre la recta conducta y el sabio gobierno.

Word by Word

बृहस्पतिम्Bṛhaspati

देवपतिःlord of the gods (Indra)

अभिवाद्यhaving saluted

कृताञ्जलिःwith hands joined (in reverence)

उपसंगम्यhaving approached

पप्रच्छasked

वासवःVāsava (Indra)

परवीरहाslayer of enemy-heroes

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Indra (Devapati, Vāsava)

Bṛhaspati

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even the most powerful ruler (Indra) approaches a teacher with humility—saluting with joined palms—showing that authority should be guided by learning, restraint, and reverence for wise counsel in matters of dharma and governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates an episode where Indra goes to Bṛhaspati, respectfully greets him, and asks a question—introducing a didactic exchange in which the divine preceptor will offer guidance.