Shloka 4

Bhīṣma’s Yogic Departure, Royal Cremation, and Gaṅgā’s Lament (भीष्मस्य योगयुक्त्या देहत्यागः, पितृमेधः, गङ्गाविलापः)

Devanagari script

व्यभ्रं च गगनं सद्यः क्षणेन समपद्यत । तीर्थयात्रां ततो विप्रा जग्मुश्नान्ये यथागतम्‌

Transliteration

vyabhraṃ ca gaganaṃ sadyaḥ kṣaṇena samapadyata | tīrthayātrāṃ tato viprā jagmuḥ anye yathāgatam ||

Translation

ତତ୍କ୍ଷଣାତ୍ ଏକ ମୁହୂର୍ତ୍ତରେ ଆକାଶ ମେଘଶୂନ୍ୟ ହୋଇ ନିର୍ମଳ ହେଲା। ତାପରେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନେ ସେଠାରୁ ତୀର୍ଥଯାତ୍ରାକୁ ଚାଲିଗଲେ, ଅନ୍ୟମାନେ ଯେପରି ଆସିଥିଲେ ସେପରି ଫେରିଗଲେ।

Word by Word

• व्यभ्रम्: cloudless, free of clouds
• व्यभ्रम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• गगनम्: sky
• गगनम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गगन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• सद्यः: immediately
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः

• क्षणेन: in a moment; by (a) moment
• क्षणेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• समपद्यत: became; came to be
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पद् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तीर्थयात्राम्: pilgrimage (journey to sacred fords)
• तीर्थयात्राम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थयात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• ततः: then; from there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• विप्राः: brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• जग्मुः: went
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• यथा: as; just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• आगतम्: come; arrived (as they had come)
• आगतम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• viprāḥ (brāhmaṇas)
• tīrthayātrā (pilgrimage to tīrthas)
• gagana (sky)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores auspicious resolution and dharmic movement: when obstacles (symbolized by clouds) clear suddenly, the righteous proceed with sacred duties such as tīrtha-yātrā, while others withdraw without disturbance—suggesting restoration of order and proper conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada narrates a sudden clearing of the sky; immediately afterward, the brāhmaṇas depart to continue their pilgrimage to sacred places, and the remaining people disperse and return home as they had arrived.