Shloka 1

Devanagari script

इस प्रकार श्रीमयहाभारत अनुशासनपवके अन्तर्गत दानधर्मपर्वमें देवता आदिके वंशका वर्णन नामक एक सौ पैंसठवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ ॥/ १६५ ॥/ षट्षष्ट्यधिकशततमोड< ध्याय: भीष्मकी अनुमति पाकर युधिष्ठटिरका सपरिवार हस्तिनापुरको प्रस्थान जनमेजय उवाच शरतल्पगते भीष्मे कौरवाणां धुरन्धरे । शयाने वीरशयने पाण्डवै: समुपस्थिते

Transliteration

janamejaya uvāca |

śarat-talpa-gate bhīṣme kauravāṇāṁ dhurandhare |

śayāne vīra-śayane pāṇḍavaiḥ samupasthite ||

Translation

Janamejaya dit : «Lorsque Bhīṣma—pilier inébranlable des Kaurava—fut étendu sur le lit de flèches, et que ce héros reposait sur sa couche de guerrier, les Pāṇḍava rassemblés autour de lui, (le récit se poursuit par ce qui fut dit et accompli en cet instant solennel). La scène marque le passage de la violence du champ de bataille à l’enseignement du dharma, tandis que les vainqueurs s’approchent du vieil aïeul mourant pour chercher guidance et apaisement.»

Word by Word

• {'janamejaya uvāca': 'Janamejaya said', 'śarat-talpa': 'bed/couch of arrows (śara = arrow

• talpa = bed)', 'gata (gate)': 'gone to

• situated in', 'bhīṣma': 'Bhīṣma (the grandsire of the Kurus)', 'kauravāṇām': 'of the Kauravas', 'dhurandhara': 'one who bears the burden

• a foremost champion', 'śayāna': 'lying down

• reclining', 'vīra-śayana': 'hero’s bed

• warrior’s couch (also evokes the solemnity of a kṣatriya’s end)', 'pāṇḍavaiḥ': 'by/with the Pāṇḍavas', 'samupasthita': 'standing near

Speaker

जनमेजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Janamejaya
• Bhīṣma
• Kauravas
• Pāṇḍavas
• Śarat-talpa (bed of arrows)
• Vīra-śayana (hero’s couch)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse sets the ethical frame: even after a devastating war, dharma is sought from the most authoritative elder. It highlights the ideal of approaching wisdom with humility—especially at liminal moments like death—so that power and victory are subordinated to moral counsel and rightful conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Janamejaya introduces the scene where Bhīṣma lies on the bed of arrows, and the Pāṇḍavas stand near him. This is the lead-in to Bhīṣma’s extended instructions (anuśāsana) on dharma, given while he awaits his chosen time of death.