Shloka 17

Adhyāya 348: Nāga–Nīgabhāryā Saṃvāda on Anger, Hope, and Ethical Response

Devanagari script

नारदेन पुरा राजन्‌ गुरवे मे निवेदितम्‌ । ऋषीणां पाण्डवानां च शृण्वतो: कृष्णभीष्मयो:,राजन! पूर्वकालमें नारदजीने ऋषियों, पाण्डवों, श्रीकृष्ण तथा भीष्मके सुनते हुए यह प्रसंग मेरे गुरु व्यासजीको बताया था

Transliteration

nāradenā purā rājan gurave me niveditam | ṛṣīṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca śṛṇvatoḥ kṛṣṇabhīṣmayoḥ ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「王よ、はるか昔、この話はナーラダによって我が師（ヴィヤーサ）に奏上された。折しも仙人たちとパーンダヴァらが聴聞し、クリシュナとビーシュマもまた耳を傾けていた。」

Word by Word

नारदेनby Narada

पुराformerly, long ago

राजन्O king

गुरवेto (my) teacher

मेof me, my

निवेदितम्was reported/told

ऋषीणाम्of the sages

पाण्डवानाम्of the Pandavas

चand

शृण्वतोःwhile (they) were listening; of the two listening

कृष्णभीष्मयोःof Krishna and Bhishma

राजन्O king

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Nārada

Vyāsa

Ṛ

Ṛṣis (sages)

Pāṇḍavas

Kṛṣṇa

Bhīṣma

King (Janamejaya)

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?

The verse emphasizes the reliability and sanctity of dharma-teachings through an authenticated chain of transmission: Nārada conveys the account to Vyāsa, and it is heard in the presence of revered authorities (ṛṣis, the Pāṇḍavas, Kṛṣṇa, and Bhīṣma). Ethical instruction is framed as something to be received through attentive listening and trustworthy lineage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana, addressing the king (Janamejaya), introduces or validates the forthcoming episode by stating its earlier provenance: Nārada once reported it to Vyāsa while eminent listeners—sages, the Pāṇḍavas, and specifically Kṛṣṇa and Bhīṣma—were present and hearing.