Shloka 16

Śrī-nivāsa: Traits and Conditions for the Abode of Prosperity (श्री-निवासः)

Devanagari script

नदीषु हंसस्वननादितासु क्रौज्चावघुष्टस्वरशोभितासु । विकीर्णकूलद्रुमराजितासु तपस्विसिद्धद्धिजसेवितासु

Transliteration

nadīṣu haṃsasvananāditāsu krauñcāvaghuṣṭasvaraśobhitāsu | vikīrṇakūladrumarājitāsu tapasvisiddhadvijasevitāsu

Translation

Bhīṣma décrit des rivières dont les rives s’animent des appels des cygnes et s’embellissent du cri sonore des oiseaux krauñca. Leurs berges sont ornées d’arbres épars le long du courant, et elles sont fréquentées par des ascètes, des sages accomplis et des brahmanes savants—un paysage où la pureté de la nature s’accorde à la présence du sacré.

Word by Word

• नदीषु: in rivers
• नदीषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• हंस-स्वन-नादितासु: in (rivers) resounding with the calls/sounds of swans
• हंस-स्वन-नादितासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नादित (√नद्)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• क्रौञ्च-अवघुष्ट-स्वर-शोभितासु: in (rivers) beautified by tones loudly cried by krauñca birds
• क्रौञ्च-अवघुष्ट-स्वर-शोभितासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभित (√शुभ्/शोभ्)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• विकीर्ण-कूल-द्रुम-राजितासु: in (rivers) adorned with trees on scattered/varied banks
• विकीर्ण-कूल-द्रुम-राजितासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजित (√राज्)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• तपस्वि-सिद्ध-द्विज-सेवितासु: in (rivers) frequented by ascetics, siddhas, and twice-born (brahmins/birds)
• तपस्वि-सिद्ध-द्विज-सेवितासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेवित (√सेव्)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• rivers (nadī)
• swans (haṃsa)
• krauñca birds (krauñca)
• riverbank trees (kūla-druma)
• ascetics (tapasvin)
• siddhas (siddha)
• brahmins/learned dvijas (dvija)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse links external purity (clean, beautiful rivers) with inner cultivation: places frequented by ascetics, siddhas, and learned dvijas are portrayed as naturally supportive of restraint, study, and dharmic conduct. It suggests that association—both with sacred environments and with the virtuous—nourishes ethical and spiritual life.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma is painting an evocative scene of holy rivers: birdsong fills the air, tree-lined banks shine, and the area is regularly visited by ascetics, perfected sages, and brahmins. The description functions as a setting that highlights sanctity and the presence of dharma-oriented communities.