Shloka 1

Viṣṇu-sahasranāma—Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Recitation (विष्णोर्नामसहस्रम्)

Devanagari script

2 अं ड-ऑ का त्रिशर्दाधिकशततमो<्ध्याय: अरुन्धती

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | tatastvṛṣigaṇāḥ sarve pitaraś ca sadevatāḥ | arundhatīṃ tapovṛddhām apṛcchanta samāhitāḥ ||

Translation

ビーシュマは言った。ついで、すべての聖仙の群れは、ピトリ（祖霊）と神々とともに、苦行によって大いなる力を得たアルンダティーのもとへ赴き、心を静めて彼女に問いかけた。すなわち、ダルマの最奥の秘義を、その口から聞き求めたのである。

Word by Word

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• तु: but/indeed (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• ऋषि-गणाः: groups of sages
• ऋषि-गणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि-गण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वे: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पितरः: the Pitrs/ancestors
• पितरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• देवताḥ: deities
• देवताḥ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• स-देवताः: together with the deities
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-देवत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अरुन्धतीम्: Arundhati
• अरुन्धतीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरुन्धती
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• तपः-वृद्धाम्: advanced in austerity
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस्-वृद्धा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अपृच्छन्: asked
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: Imperfect (Anadyatana-bhuta), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• समाहिताः: collected, attentive
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाहित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Arundhatī
• Ṛṣis
• Pitṛs
• Devatās

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is presented as a subtle ‘secret’ best approached through humility and disciplined attention, by seeking guidance from one established in tapas and moral authority.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma narrates that sages, ancestors (Pitṛs), and gods collectively approach Arundhatī and, with focused minds, question her to learn the deepest principles of dharma.