Shloka 19

Devanagari script

अप्रमेयो हृषीकेश: पद्मनाभो5मरप्र भु: । विश्वकर्मा मनुस्त्वष्टा स्थविष्ठ: स्थविरो ध्रुव:

Transliteration

aprameyo hṛṣīkeśaḥ padmanābho 'maraprabhuḥ | viśvakarmā manus tvaṣṭā sthaviṣṭhaḥ sthaviro dhruvaḥ ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ସେ ଅପ୍ରମେୟ—ହୃଷୀକେଶ, ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟମାନଙ୍କର ପ୍ରଭୁ; ପଦ୍ମନାଭ, ଯାହାଙ୍କ ନାଭିରେ ଜଗତ୍କାରଣ ପଦ୍ମ ଅବସ୍ଥିତ; ଅମରମାନଙ୍କର ଅଧିପତି। ସେ ବିଶ୍ୱକର୍ମା, ସୃଷ୍ଟିର ଶିଳ୍ପୀ; ମନୁ, ପ୍ରଜାଙ୍କ ଆଦିପିତା ଓ ବିଧିଦାତା; ତ୍ୱଷ୍ଟା, ପ୍ରଳୟକାଳେ ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରାଣୀକୁ କ୍ଷୀଣ କରୁଥିବା ଶକ୍ତି। ସେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ସ୍ଥୂଳ, ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପ୍ରାଚୀନ, ଏବଂ ଅଚଳ ଧ୍ରୁବ।

Word by Word

• अप्रमेयः: immeasurable; beyond valid means of knowledge
• अप्रमेयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रमेय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हृषीकेशः: Hṛṣīkeśa (Lord of the senses; epithet of Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
• हृषीकेशः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृषीकेश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पद्मनाभः: Padmanābha (lotus-naveled; epithet of Viṣṇu)
• पद्मनाभः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मनाभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अमरप्रभुः: lord of the immortals (gods)
• अमरप्रभुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमरप्रभु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विश्वकर्मा: Viśvakarman; maker/creator of the universe
• विश्वकर्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वकर्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मनुः: Manu (progenitor; lawgiver)
• मनुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्वष्टा: Tvaṣṭṛ (divine artisan; shaper)
• त्वष्टा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वष्टृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्थविष्ठः: the most massive; exceedingly gross/solid
• स्थविष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थविष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्थविरः: ancient; very old
• स्थविरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थविर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ध्रुवः: fixed; steadfast; immutable
• ध्रुवः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्रुव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Hṛṣīkeśa (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
• Padmanābha (Viṣṇu)
• Viśvakarmā
• Manu
• Tvaṣṭā

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches contemplation of the Supreme through layered divine names: the Lord is beyond measurement, governs the senses, is the cosmic source, rules the gods, creates and orders the world (Viśvakarmā/Manu), and remains ancient and unshakably constant (dhruva). Remembering these attributes supports dharma by anchoring the mind in a stable, higher order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is reciting a sequence of divine epithets in praise of Viṣṇu (often aligned with Kṛṣṇa), presenting theological identifications—creator, lawgiver, cosmic sustainer/dissolver—within his instruction on dharma and devotion in the Anuśāsana Parva.