Shloka 34

नारायणीयमाख्यानम् (Nārāyaṇīyam Ākhyānam) — Nārada’s Return and Hymnic Consolidation

Devanagari script

अनग्नेर्भूमेरपां वायोरन्तरिक्षस्य चैव ह । वीर्येण सदृशः पुत्र: पुरा मत्तस्त्वया वृत:

Transliteration

anagner bhūmer apāṁ vāyor antarīkṣasya caiva ha | vīryeṇa sadṛśaḥ putraḥ purā mattas tvayā vṛtaḥ |

Translation

ビーシュマは言った。「おお婆羅門よ。かつて汝は、火・地・水・風、そして虚空にも比すべき力を備えた子を、我に願って授かろうとした。ゆえに、汝の苦行（tapas）の威力と、我が恩寵とによって、そのような子を得たのだ――梵（Brahman）の光輝に満ち、至上に清浄なる者を。」

Word by Word

• {'anagneḥ': 'of fire (Agni)

• genitive singular', 'bhūmeḥ': 'of the earth

• genitive singular', 'apām': 'of the waters

• genitive plural', 'vāyoḥ': 'of the wind

• genitive singular', 'antarīkṣasya': 'of the midspace/sky/atmosphere

• genitive singular', 'ca eva': 'and indeed/also', 'ha': 'particle indicating emphasis or recollection (‘indeed’, ‘surely’)', 'vīryeṇa': 'by strength, valor, potency

• instrumental singular', 'sadṛśaḥ': 'similar, comparable

• nominative singular masculine', 'putraḥ': 'son

• nominative singular', 'purā': 'formerly, earlier', 'mattaḥ': 'from me

• ablative singular', 'tvayā': 'by you

• instrumental singular', 'vṛtaḥ': 'chosen/asked for/sought

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Brahmin (unnamed)
• Agni (fire)
• Bhumi (earth)
• Ap (waters)
• Vayu (wind)
• Antariksha (sky/atmosphere)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse links rightful aspiration and disciplined austerity (tapas) with the ethical granting of boons: power is not merely physical but is framed as purity and brahmanical radiance, implying that true strength should be aligned with inner sanctity and dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma recalls a prior request made by a Brahmin for a son equal in potency to the great elements (fire, earth, water, wind, sky). Bhishma states that, through the Brahmin’s austerities and Bhishma’s favor, such a son was indeed obtained—described as radiant with brahmatejas and exceptionally pure.