Shloka 20

वृत्ति-सत्सङ्ग-दान-धर्म

Livelihood, Virtuous Association, and Ethics of Giving

Devanagari script

ततस्तस्य मखं देवा: सर्वे शक्रपुरोगमा: । गमनाय समागम्य बुद्धिमापेदिरे तदा

Transliteration

tatastasya makhaṃ devāḥ sarve śakrapurogamāḥ | gamanāya samāgamya buddhim āpedire tadā ||

Translation

Kemudian semua dewa, dengan Śakra (Indra) di depan, berkumpul untuk berangkat menuju yajña itu; pada saat itu pula mereka menetapkan suatu keputusan (rencana) mengenai hal tersebut.

Word by Word

ततःthen/from thereupon

तस्यof him/of that

मखम्sacrifice (yajña)

देवाःthe gods

सर्वेall

शक्रपुरोगमाःhaving Śakra (Indra) in front/led by Indra

गमनायfor going / for departure

समागम्यhaving assembled/come together

बुद्धिम्a plan/decision, intention

आपेदिरेthey adopted/they resolved upon

तदाthen, at that time

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Devāḥ (the gods)

Śakra (Indra)

Makha (sacrifice/yajña)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in matters deemed sacred and divinely overseen, right action is preceded by saṅgati (coming together) and buddhi (deliberate decision). The verse highlights the ethical value of counsel, coordination, and intentionality in executing dharmic acts such as sacrifice.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes a moment when all the gods, with Indra at their head, gather with the intention of going to a particular sacrifice. Upon assembling, they form a plan/decision about how to proceed regarding that sacrificial event.