Shloka 46

Umā–Maheśvara-saṃvāda: Varṇa-bhraṃśa, Ācāra (Vṛtta), and Karmic Ascent/Decline

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच अहो प्रश्नो महाभागा गूढार्थ: परम: शुभ: । सूक्ष्म: श्रेयांश्व॒ मर्दानां भवद्धिः समुदाह्ृत:

Transliteration

brahmovāca aho praśno mahābhāgā gūḍhārthaḥ paramaḥ śubhaḥ | sūkṣmaḥ śreyāṁś ca martyānāṁ bhavadbhiḥ samudāhṛtaḥ ||

Translation

ବ୍ରହ୍ମା କହିଲେ—“ଆହା! ମହାଭାଗମାନେ, ଏହି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ ଗୂଢ଼ାର୍ଥଯୁକ୍ତ, ପରମ ଶୁଭ ଓ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ସୂକ୍ଷ୍ମ। ଏହା ମର୍ତ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କ ପରମ ଶ୍ରେୟସ୍‌କୁ ସାଧେ; ତୁମେ ଏହାକୁ ଯଥାର୍ଥ ଭାବେ ଉପସ୍ଥାପନ କରିଛ।”

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), Third, Singular

• अहो: ah!/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो

• प्रश्नः: question
• प्रश्नः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रश्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाभागाः: O greatly fortunate ones
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Plural

• गूढार्थः: having a hidden meaning
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गूढार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परमः: supreme
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शुभः: auspicious
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सूक्ष्मः: subtle
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्रेयांश्च: and more beneficial
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मर्त्यानाम्: of mortals
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• भवद्भिः: by you (honorific)
• भवद्भिः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: भवत्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• समुदाहृतः: has been well stated/uttered
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उद्-आ-हृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises the act of asking a question that is deep, subtle, and ethically beneficial. It frames sincere inquiry into dharma as itself auspicious and as a means to human welfare (śreyas).

What is happening in the narrative?

Within Bhīṣma’s discourse, a divine voice (Brahmā) responds approvingly to the interlocutors’ inquiry, emphasizing that their question is profound and well-formulated, setting the stage for an authoritative explanation of dharma.