Shloka 4

Devanagari script

नारदेनापि राजेन्द्र देवेन्द्रस्य निवेशने । कथिता भरतश्रेष्ठ पृष्टेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा,नृपश्रेष्॒ भरतभूषण! फिर अनायास ही उत्तम कर्म करनेवाले नारदजीने भी देवराज इन्द्रके भवनमें उनके पूछनेपर यह कथा सुनायी

Transliteration

nāradenāpi rājendra devendrasya niveśane | kathitā bharataśreṣṭha pṛṣṭenākliṣṭakarmaṇā ||

Translation

Bhīṣma dit : Ô roi, même Nārada—interrogé par Indra, seigneur des dieux, dans sa demeure—raconta ce même récit. Ô meilleur des Bhārata, ces paroles furent dites par ce sage dont l’action juste ne connaît ni lassitude ni peine, attestant que le dharma est confirmé dans les plus hautes assemblées pour guider les souverains.

Word by Word

नारदेनby Narada

अपिalso/even

राजेन्द्रO king of kings

देवेन्द्रस्यof Indra (lord of gods)

निवेशनेin the abode/dwelling

कथिताwas told/related

भरतश्रेष्ठO best of the Bharatas

पृष्टेनby (one) who was asked / upon being asked

अक्लिष्टकर्मणाby the doer of untroubled/easy deeds; by one of effortless action

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Nārada

Indra (Devendra)

Indra's abode (niveśana)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That dharmic instruction gains special authority when it is affirmed by revered sages (like Nārada) and discussed even in divine assemblies; rulers should treat such teachings as reliable guidance for righteous governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma tells the king that the same story he is narrating was also told by Nārada in Indra’s residence, in response to Indra’s question—framing the account as well-attested and worthy of attention.