Shloka 1

Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava

Devanagari script

/ [दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका हई “लोक मिलाकर कुछ ४६ ३ “लोक हैं] नसजआा न (0) आज अन+- एकोनषशष्टितमो< ध्याय: भीष्मका पराक्रम

Transliteration

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |

pratijñāte tataḥ tasmin yuddhe bhīṣmeṇa dāruṇe |

krodhito mama putreṇa duḥkhitena viśeṣataḥ ||

Translation

Dhṛtarāṣṭra dit : «Sañjaya, dans cette bataille terrible, lorsque Bhīṣma fit son vœu—sa colère ayant été attisée par mon fils, accablé plus que tout—, que fit alors Bhīṣma sur le champ de guerre contre les fils de Pāṇḍu ?»

Word by Word

• व्युष्टाम्: having dawned / ended (night)
• व्युष्टाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्युष्ट (वि+उष्)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• निशाम्: night
• निशाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• भारत: O Bharata (Dhṛtarāṣṭra)
• भारत: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• भारतानीकिनीनाम्: of the Bharata armies
• भारतानीकिनीनाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत + अनीकिनी
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• प्रमुखे: at the front / in the forefront
• प्रमुखे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमुख
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• महात्मा: the great-souled one
• महात्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (यि)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• सपत्नान्: rivals / enemies
• सपत्नान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सपत्न
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• प्रति: towards / against
• प्रति: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति

• जातकोपः: whose anger had arisen
• जातकोपः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जात + कोप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वृतः: surrounded / accompanied
• वृतः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत (वृ + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समग्रेण: with the entire / complete
• समग्रेण: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समग्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• बलेन: force / army
• बलेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• भीष्मः: Bhīṣma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

ध्ृतराष्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Bhīṣma
• Duryodhana (implied by 'my son')
• Sañjaya (implied as the addressee)
• Pāṇḍavas (implied by the question’s context in this passage)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how grief and attachment can fuel anger and escalate violence: Dhṛtarāṣṭra frames events through his son’s distress, showing the ethical danger of partiality and emotional agitation in decisions of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra questions Sañjaya about a turning point: Bhīṣma, provoked by Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son (Duryodhana) and in a dreadful battle, has taken a vow; the king asks what Bhīṣma then did against the Pāṇḍavas.