Shloka 21

अध्याय २८१ — दानधर्मः, न्यायागतधनम्, ऋणत्रय-परिशोधनं च

Dāna ethics, lawful wealth, and settling obligations

Devanagari script

पितामहमुपागम्य शिरसा प्रत्यपूजयत्‌ । भरतभूषण! ब्रह्महत्याने देवराज इन्द्रको अपना बंदी बना ही लिया। वे उसी अवस्थामें ब्रह्माजीके पास गये और मस्तक झुकाकर उन्होंने ब्रह्माजीको प्रणाम किया ।। ज्ञात्वा गृहीतं शक्रं स द्विजप्रवरवध्यया

Transliteration

pitāmaham upāgamya śirasā pratyapūjayat | jñātvā gṛhītaṃ śakraṃ sa dvijapravaravadhyayā ||

Translation

मग तो पितामह ब्रह्माजवळ गेला आणि मस्तक झुकवून त्यांना आदराने वंदन केले. श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणवधामुळे शक्र पकडला गेला आहे हे जाणून तो दीनभावाने ब्रह्मांच्या शरण गेला.

Word by Word

पितामहम्the grandsire (Brahmā)

उपागम्यhaving approached

शिरसाwith (his) head

प्रत्यपूजयत्he paid reverence / he worshipped

ज्ञात्वाhaving known

गृहीतम्seized / captured

शक्रम्Śakra (Indra)

सःhe

द्विजप्रवरवध्ययाby the killing of the foremost Brāhmaṇa

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Brahmā (Pitāmaha)

Indra (Śakra)

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 moral accountability: even Indra is constrained by the consequences of brahmahatyā (the grave sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa). Proper response to wrongdoing is humility, reverence toward higher wisdom (Brahmā), and seeking a righteous remedy rather than relying on power or status.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra (Śakra), having been seized/held due to the sin arising from killing a foremost Brāhmaṇa, approaches Brahmā (Pitāmaha). He bows his head and offers respectful homage, indicating submission and a request for guidance or resolution.