Shloka 35

अध्याय २०८ — इन्द्रियनिग्रहः, सत्याहिंसात्मकवाक्, कर्मफलविवेकः

Restraint of the Senses, Non-harming Truthful Speech, and Discernment of Karmic Consequence

Devanagari script

साक्षिभूता महात्मानो भुवनानां प्रभावना: । एवमेते महात्मान: स्थिता: प्रत्येकशो दिशम्‌

Transliteration

sākṣibhūtā mahātmāno bhuvanānāṁ prabhāvanāḥ | evam ete mahātmānaḥ sthitāḥ pratyekaśo diśam ||

Translation

ये महात्मा ऋषि सबके साक्षी हैं और भुवनों को धारण व प्रकट करने की शक्ति से युक्त हैं। इस प्रकार ये महात्मा प्रत्येक दिशा में अपने-अपने स्थान पर स्थित हैं।

Word by Word

• {'sākṣibhūtāḥ': 'having become witnesses

• serving as impartial observers', 'mahātmānaḥ': 'great-souled ones

• exalted sages', 'bhuvanānām': 'of the worlds

• of the realms of existence', 'prabhāvanāḥ': 'powerful in manifestation

• capable of sustaining/bringing forth (the worlds)', 'evam': 'thus

• in this manner', 'ete': 'these', 'sthitāḥ': 'standing

• abiding', 'pratyekaśaḥ': 'severally

• each in his own way/portion', 'diśam': 'in a direction

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• mahātmānaḥ (great sages)
• bhuvanāni (the worlds)
• diśaḥ (the directions/quarters)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and metaphysical idea that great sages function as impartial witnesses and stabilizing powers within the cosmos—each stationed in a specific quarter—supporting dharma by their presence, insight, and vast-heartedness.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva, Bhishma continues a structured description of exalted seers associated with the directions. This verse serves as a summary statement: the sages have been enumerated as radiant, world-sustaining, and witness-like beings, each abiding in his respective direction.