Shloka 98

Devanagari script

अप्येवं नो ब्राह्मणा: सन्ति वृद्धा बहुश्रुता: शीलवन्तः कुलीना: । सांवत्सरा ज्योतिषि चाभियुक्ता नक्षत्रयोगेषु च निश्चयज्ञा:,“हमारे पास कितने ही ऐसे वृद्ध ब्राह्मण विद्यमान हैं, जो अनेक शास्त्रोंके विद्वान, सुशील, उत्तम कुलमें उत्पन्न, वर्षके शुभाशुभ फलोंको जाननेवाले, ज्योतिष-शास्त्रके मर्मज्ञ तथा ग्रह-नक्षत्रोंक योगफलका निश्चित-रूपसे ज्ञान रखनेवाले हैं

Transliteration

apyevaṃ no brāhmaṇāḥ santi vṛddhā bahuśrutāḥ śīlavantaḥ kulīnāḥ | sāṃvatsarā jyotiṣi cābhiyuktā nakṣatrayogeṣu ca niścayajñāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: “Sesungguhnya di pihak kami pun ada para Brahmana lanjut usia—terpelajar dalam banyak śāstra, berperilaku luhur, dan berasal dari garis keturunan mulia—mahir dalam ilmu perbintangan, mampu menilai hasil baik dan buruk sepanjang tahun, serta mantap pengetahuannya tentang perpaduan bintang dan planet.”

Word by Word

अपिalso, even

एवम्thus, in this way

नःof us/our

ब्राह्मणाःBrahmins

सन्तिare, exist

वृद्धाःelderly, aged

बहुश्रुताःmuch-learned, well-read

शीलवन्तःvirtuous, of good conduct

कुलीनाःwell-born, of noble family

सांवत्सराःknowing the (yearly) annual results; annual prognosticators

ज्योतिषिin astrology/astronomy

चand

अभियुक्ताःengaged, devoted, expert

नक्षत्रयोगेषुin the conjunctions/combinations of stars (nakshatras)

चand

निश्चयज्ञाःknowers of certainty; those who know decisively

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

brāhmaṇāḥ (elder Brahmins)

jyotiṣa (astrology/astronomy)

nakṣatra (lunar mansions)

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?

Competent counsel for rulers should rest on learning, ethical character, and tested expertise; Sañjaya highlights that wise, virtuous Brahmins—skilled in interpreting time and omens—are available as reliable advisors.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya points out that their side possesses experienced Brahmin elders who are learned and proficient in jyotiṣa, capable of determining yearly outcomes and the effects of stellar configurations—implying that guidance and prognostication are already at hand in the unfolding political crisis.