Shloka 38

भीष्मधनंजयद्वैरथम्

Bhīṣma–Dhanaṃjaya Duel and the Opening Clash

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्ततो राजन्‌ पिता देवव्रतस्तव

Transliteration

evam uktas tato rājan pitā devavratas tava

Translation

“ഹേ രാജാവേ! ഇങ്ങനെ പറയപ്പെട്ടപ്പോൾ, അപ്പോൾ നിന്റെ പിതാവായ ദേവവ്രതൻ (ഭീഷ്മൻ)…”

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्तः: having been spoken to / addressed
• उक्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• ततः: then; thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• देवव्रतः: Devavrata (Bhishma)
• देवव्रतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवव्रत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तव: your
• तव: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhritarashtra
• Devavrata (Bhishma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how speech and counsel directed to a responsible elder immediately translate into action governed by duty (dharma), especially in a war setting where authority, lineage, and obligation weigh heavily.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya continues reporting to Dhritarashtra and marks a transition: after someone has addressed Bhishma (Devavrata), Bhishma—called ‘your father’ to stress his seniority and guardianship of the Kuru line—proceeds to respond or act.