Shloka 41

Adhyāya 270 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on saṃnyāsa; Bhīṣma on calculable time, tamas, and karma

Vṛtra–Uśanā exemplum begins

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणस्य तपोयोगात्‌ सौहृदेनाभिचोदित:

Transliteration

brāhmaṇasya tapoyogāt sauhṛdenābhicoditaḥ, bharatanandana! itenahīme brāhmaṇasya tapasyāḥ prabhāvena tathā tasya prati sauhārdena preritaḥ kuṇḍadhāraṇe tasmai pratyakṣa-darśanaṃ dadau. tena miltvā brāhmaṇena kuṇḍadhārasya vidhipūrvakaṃ pūjā kṛtā. nareśvara! taṃ dṛṣṭvā brāhmaṇo mahad āścaryam avāpa.

Translation

ഭരതനന്ദനേ! ബ്രാഹ്മണന്റെ തപോയോഗത്തിന്റെ പ്രഭാവത്താലും അവനോടുള്ള സൗഹൃദഭാവത്താലും പ്രേരിതനായി കുണ്ഡധാരൻ അവന് പ്രത്യക്ഷദർശനം നൽകി. കണ്ടുമുട്ടിയ ശേഷം ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ വിധിപൂർവ്വം കുണ്ഡധാരനെ പൂജിച്ചു. നരേശ്വരാ, അവനെ കണ്ടപ്പോൾ ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ മഹാവിസ്മയത്തിലായി.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणस्य: of the Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• योगात्: from/through (the power of) yoga; due to yoga
• योगात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• सौहृदेन: by friendship/affection
• सौहृदेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौहृद
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अभिचोदितः: impelled, prompted
• अभिचोदितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-चुद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)

• भरत-नन्दन: O delight of Bharata (O descendant of Bharata)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरतनन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Bharatanandana (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Brāhmaṇa (the ascetic Brahmin)
• Kuṇḍadhāra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that disciplined austerity (tapas) coupled with benevolent goodwill (sauhārda) can lead to direct spiritual encounter; it also stresses dharmic conduct through proper, rule-based worship (vidhipūrvaka pūjā) rather than casual or self-willed devotion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma narrates that Kundadhara, pleased and prompted by the Brahmin’s ascetic power and friendly disposition, appears before him. The Brahmin then performs a proper ritual honoring of Kundadhara, and the extraordinary sight fills him with amazement.