Shloka 21

Kṛṣṇa’s Dhyāna and the Prompt to Question Bhīṣma (कृष्णध्यानं भीष्मप्रश्नप्रेरणा च)

Devanagari script

तद्‌ युधिष्छिर गाड़ेयं भीष्म॑ं भीमपराक्रमम्‌ | अभिगम्योपसंगृहा[ पृच्छ यत्‌ ते मनोगतम्‌

Transliteration

tad yudhiṣṭhira gāḍheyaṃ bhīṣmaṃ bhīmaparākramam | abhigamyopasaṅgṛhya pṛccha yat te manogatam ||

Translation

«Por tanto, oh Yudhiṣṭhira, acércate a Bhīṣma —firme en su determinación y de gran poder— y, tras aproximarte y atenderlo con respeto, pregúntale cuanto haya en tu corazón.»

Word by Word

• तत्: that (matter/thing)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• युधिष्ठिर: O Yudhiṣṭhira
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• गाङ्गेयम्: the son of Gaṅgā (Bhīṣma)
• गाङ्गेयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाङ्गेय
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• भीष्मम्: Bhīṣma
• भीष्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• भीमपराक्रमम्: of terrible prowess
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम-पराक्रम
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• अभिगम्य: having approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-गम्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), active

• उपसंगृह्य: having respectfully greeted / having paid respects
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-सम्-ग्रह्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), active

• पृच्छ: ask (you)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: imperative, 2nd, singular, active

• यत्: whatever / that which
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• ते: of you / your
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: genitive, singular

• मनोगतम्: in (your) mind; intended; desired
• मनोगतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस्-गत
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

Speaker

वासुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Seek dharma through humble, respectful inquiry from a qualified elder. Moral and political dilemmas should be clarified by approaching those established in wisdom and experience, not by solitary speculation or pride.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) instructs Yudhiṣṭhira to go to Bhīṣma—renowned for strength and steadfastness—and, after paying due respect and attending upon him, to ask the questions weighing on his mind. This sets up Bhīṣma’s extended instruction in the Śānti Parva.