Shloka 51

Śānti-parva 168: Śoka-nivṛtti-buddhi (The Cognition that Reduces Grief) and Piṅgalā’s Nairāśya

Devanagari script

स चापि तान्‌ धर्मसुतो महामना- स्तदा प्रतीतान्‌ प्रशशंस वीर्यवान्‌ | पुनश्न पप्रच्छ सरिद्वरासुतं ततः परं धर्ममहीनचेतसम्‌

Transliteration

sa cāpi tān dharmasuto mahāmanās tadā pratītān praśaśaṁsa vīryavān | punaś ca papraccha saridvarāsutaṁ tataḥ paraṁ dharmam ahīnacetasaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : Alors le fils de Dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira, magnanime et vaillant, loua ces rois et ces parents dignes de confiance qui avaient manifesté leur loyauté. Puis, l’esprit paisible et généreux, il s’approcha de nouveau de Bhīṣma, fils du plus noble des fleuves, et l’interrogea sur les principes plus élevés et plus excellents du dharma.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'dharmasutaḥ', 'definition': 'son of Dharma

• epithet of Yudhiṣṭhira'}, {'term': 'mahāmanāḥ', 'definition': 'great-souled, noble-minded'}, {'term': 'pratītān', 'definition': 'trusted, approved, those in whom confidence is placed'}, {'term': 'praśaśaṁsa', 'definition': 'praised, commended'}, {'term': 'vīryavān', 'definition': 'valiant, possessed of heroic strength'}, {'term': 'punaḥ', 'definition': 'again'}, {'term': 'papraccha', 'definition': 'asked, inquired'}, {'term': 'saridvarāsutaḥ / saridvarā-sutaṁ', 'definition': 'son of the best of rivers (Gaṅgā)

• epithet of Bhīṣma'}, {'term': 'tataḥ param', 'definition': 'thereafter

• next, in a higher degree'}, {'term': 'dharmaḥ', 'definition': 'righteous duty

• ethical order'}, {'term': 'ahīnacetasaḥ', 'definition': 'of undepressed mind

Speaker

वैशग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmasuta, Dharmaputra)
• Bhīṣma
• Gaṅgā (Saridvarā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic method of learning: after acknowledging and honoring trustworthy allies, Yudhiṣṭhira seeks deeper guidance on dharma from an authoritative elder (Bhīṣma). Ethical inquiry is framed as continuous—one returns again to ask about 'para-dharma', the higher or more refined principles of right conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shānti Parva dialogue setting, Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira praises the loyal kings and relatives present, and then approaches Bhīṣma once more to ask further questions about the best and higher forms of dharma.