Shloka 38

Yajña-bhāga-vyavasthā and the Pravṛtti–Nivṛtti Framework (यज्ञभागव्यवस्था तथा प्रवृत्तिनिवृत्तिधर्मविवेचनम्)

Devanagari script

एतद्‌ वाक्य गुरो: श्रुत्वा शिष्यास्ते हृष्टमानसा: । पुन: प्राउजलयो भूत्वा प्रणम्य शिरसा गुरुम्‌

Transliteration

etad vākyaṃ guroḥ śrutvā śiṣyās te hṛṣṭamānasāḥ | punaḥ prāñjalayo bhūtvā praṇamya śirasā gurum ||

Translation

ビーシュマは語った。師の言葉を聞くと、弟子たちの胸は歓喜に満ちた。彼らは再び合掌し、頭を垂れて師に礼拝し、こう確かめた――師のご満悦とご承認こそが至上の祝福であり、真の幸運の尺度である、と。

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'etad', 'definition': 'this (referring to what was just said)'}, {'term': 'vākya', 'definition': 'speech, statement, utterance'}, {'term': 'guroḥ', 'definition': 'of the guru/teacher (genitive singular)'}, {'term': 'śrutvā', 'definition': "having heard (absolutive of √śru, 'to hear')"}, {'term': 'śiṣyāḥ', 'definition': 'disciples, students'}, {'term': 'te', 'definition': 'those, they'}, {'term': 'hṛṣṭa-mānasāḥ', 'definition': 'with delighted minds

• inwardly joyful'}, {'term': 'punaḥ', 'definition': 'again, once more'}, {'term': 'prāñjalayaḥ', 'definition': 'with joined palms

• in an attitude of reverence'}, {'term': 'bhūtvā', 'definition': "having become (absolutive of √bhū, 'to be/become')"}, {'term': 'praṇamya', 'definition': 'having bowed down, having saluted (absolutive of √nam)'}, {'term': 'śirasā', 'definition': 'with the head

• by bowing the head (instrumental)'}, {'term': 'gurum', 'definition': 'the guru/teacher (accusative singular)'}]

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• guru (teacher)
• śiṣyāḥ (disciples)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical ideal of the guru–śiṣya bond: true learning is accompanied by humility and gratitude. The disciples treat the teacher’s instruction and approval as a moral good in itself, expressing reverence (prāñjali, praṇāma) rather than pride or entitlement.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing their teacher’s words, the disciples feel inner joy and respond with formal respect—joining their hands and bowing their heads to the guru—signaling acceptance of the instruction and reaffirming their devotion to the teacher.