Shloka 96

Devanagari script

समयुज्यत कालेन भरतानां कुलोद्वह: । नृपश्रेष्ठट इस प्रकार भरतवंशका भार वहन करनेवाले शान्तनुनन्दन राजा भीष्म कालके अधीन हुए

Transliteration

samayujyata kālena bharatānāṁ kulodvahaḥ | nṛpaśreṣṭhaḥ tathā śāntanunandanaḥ rājā bhīṣmaḥ kālasyādhīno 'bhavat ||

Translation

വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു— കാലം പാകമായപ്പോൾ ഭാരതവംശത്തിന്റെ കുലധുരന്ധരനും നൃപശ്രേഷ്ഠനുമായ ശാന്തനുനന്ദനൻ ഭീഷ്മനും കാലാധീനനായി.

Word by Word

• समायुज्यत: was joined/was subjected (to)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-युज्
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), आत्मनेपद, 3, singular

• कालेन: by Time
• कालेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• भरतानाम्: of the Bharatas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

• कुलोद्वहः: the upholder of the lineage
• कुलोद्वहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल-उद्वह
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīṣma
• Śāntanu
• Bharata dynasty (Bharatāḥ)
• Kāla (Time)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the supremacy of Kāla (Time): even Bhīṣma—renowned for vows, virtue, and royal stature—ultimately becomes subject to Time. Ethically, it teaches humility and detachment, reminding readers that dharmic greatness does not exempt one from mortality and cosmic order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that, in the natural course of events, Bhīṣma—the chief support of the Bharata lineage and son of Śāntanu—reaches the moment appointed by Time, indicating his approaching end and the inevitable transition that follows even for the greatest figures.