Shloka 5

Kṛṣṇa’s Dhyāna and the Prompt to Question Bhīṣma (कृष्णध्यानं भीष्मप्रश्नप्रेरणा च)

Devanagari script

नेड़न्ति तव रोमाणि स्थिरा बुद्धिस्तथा मन: । काष्ठकुड्यशिलाभूतो निरीहश्चासि माधव,आपके रोंगटे खड़े हो गये हैं। जरा भी हिलते नहीं हैं। बुद्धि तथा मन भी स्थिर हैं। माधव! आप काठ, दीवार और पत्थरकी तरह निश्रेष्ट हो गये हैं

Transliteration

neḍanti tava romāṇi sthirā buddhis tathā manaḥ | kāṣṭha-kuḍya-śilā-bhūto nirīhaś cāsi mādhava ||

Translation

ユディシュティラは言った。「あなたの毛は逆立ちながら、少しも震えはない。知性も心も揺るがず定まっている。おおマーダヴァよ、あなたは木や壁や石のように、外へ向かう働きをまったく失ったかのごとくである。」

Word by Word

नेडन्तिstand on end / bristle

तवof you / your

रोमाणिhairs (of the body)

स्थिराsteady, unmoving

बुद्धिःintellect

तथाlikewise, also

मनःmind

काष्ठकुड्यशिलाभूतःbecome like wood, wall, and stone

निरीहःinactive, motionless, without effort

चand

असिyou are

माधवO Madhava (Krishna)

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa)

romāṇi (body-hairs)

kāṣṭha (wood)

kuḍya (wall)

śilā (stone)

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 highlights the ideal of inner steadiness: even when the body shows a strong reaction (hairs bristling), the mind and intellect can remain unwavering. It points to disciplined equanimity and freedom from impulsive outward action (nirīhatā) as an ethical strength.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa), observing his unusual composure. He notes that despite a sign of intense feeling (bristling hairs), Kṛṣṇa remains motionless and mentally steady, likened to inert, firm objects such as wood, a wall, and stone.