Shloka 63

Devanagari script

स्वापन: स्ववशो व्यापी नैकात्मा नैककर्मकृत्‌ । वत्सरो वत्सलो वत्सी रत्नगर्भो धनेश्वर:

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | svāpanaḥ svavaśo vyāpī naikātmā naikakarmakṛt | vatsaro vatsalo vatsī ratnagarbho dhaneśvaraḥ ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ପ୍ରଳୟକାଳେ ସେ ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରାଣୀଙ୍କୁ ଅଜ୍ଞାନ-ନିଦ୍ରାରେ ଶୟନ କରାଏ; ସ୍ୱବଶ ଓ ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର; ଆକାଶ ପରି ସର୍ବବ୍ୟାପୀ। ଯୁଗେ ଯୁଗେ ଲୋକୋଦ୍ଧାର ପାଇଁ ସେ ଅନେକ ରୂପ ଧାରଣ କରେ; ଏବଂ ସୃଷ୍ଟି-ସ୍ଥିତି-ପ୍ରଳୟ ତଥା ଅବତାର-ଲୀଳାରୂପେ ନାନା କର୍ମ କରେ। ସେଇ ‘ବତ୍ସର’—ଯାହାରେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ନିବାସ ଓ ପ୍ରବାହ; ଭକ୍ତମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ସ୍ନେହଶୀଳ; ବ୍ରଜରେ ବଛଡ଼ାମାନଙ୍କୁ ପାଳନ କରୁଥିବା; ରତ୍ନଧାରୀ ସମୁଦ୍ରସଦୃଶ ‘ରତ୍ନଗର୍ଭ’; ଏବଂ ସମସ୍ତ ଧନର ଈଶ୍ୱର।

Word by Word

• स्वापनः: the one who causes sleep (esp. the deluding sleep at dissolution)
• स्वापनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वापन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्ववशः: self-controlled; independent
• स्ववशः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्ववश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• व्यापी: all-pervading
• व्यापी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यापिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न-एकात्मा: not of a single form; of many forms
• न-एकात्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न-एककर्मकृत्: not doing only one act; performing many deeds
• न-एककर्मकृत्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्मकृत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वत्सरः: the year; (also) the abode/dwelling-place (as an epithet)
• वत्सरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्सर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वत्सलः: affectionate; loving (to devotees/children)
• वत्सलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वत्सल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वत्सी: having calves; possessing/keeping calves
• वत्सी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वत्सिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रत्नगर्भः: having jewels in the womb; containing gems
• रत्नगर्भः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्नगर्भ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धनेश्वरः: lord of wealth; master of riches
• धनेश्वरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनेश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma (Bhīṣma)
• Supreme Lord (Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa as the praised deity)
• Vraja/Vrindavan (implied by 'vatsī' in the Gopāla context)
• Ocean (implied by 'ratnagarbha' as jewel-womb)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that the Supreme is simultaneously the cosmic principle governing time, creation, and dissolution, and also the intimate, loving protector of devotees. Recognizing this unity supports dharma: reverence for the moral order of the universe and trust in the Lord’s compassionate nearness.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and extols the Supreme through a sequence of divine epithets (commonly aligned with the Viṣṇu-sahasranāma tradition). This verse is one segment of that praise, listing names that highlight both universal sovereignty and pastoral tenderness.