Shloka 423
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
महर्षिसुरगन्धर्वानुवाचेदं पितामह: । सभी प्राणी भयके मारे बारंबार व्यथित हो उठते थे। उस भयानक भूतको उपस्थित हुआ देख पितामह ब्रह्माने महर्षियों, देवताओं तथा गन्धर्वोंसे कहा--
maharsisuragandharvān uvācedaṃ pitāmahaḥ | sabhī prāṇī bhayake māre bārambār vyathita ho uṭhate the | us bhayānaka bhūtako upasthita huā dekh pitāmaha brahmāne maharsiyoṃ, devatāoṃ tathā gandharvoṃse kahā—
Bhīṣma dit : Le Grand-Père (Brahmā) s’adressa aux grands rishis, aux dieux et aux Gandharvas. Tous les êtres, saisis de peur, étaient sans cesse secoués et tourmentés. Voyant paraître devant eux cet être effroyable, le Grand-Père Brahmā parla aux sages, aux divinités et aux musiciens célestes, ouvrant un conseil destiné à rétablir l’ordre et la constance au cœur de l’épouvante.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When fear overwhelms the world, restoration begins with wise counsel and re-centering on dharma: the highest authority (here Brahmā) addresses the community of the wise and the divine to re-establish steadiness, right understanding, and order.
A terrifying entity appears, causing repeated distress among living beings. In response, Brahmā—the Grandsire—addresses the assembled sages, gods, and Gandharvas, indicating an impending instruction or decision meant to deal with the threat.