Shloka 1

Devanagari script

अपना छा | अ:-फक्राछ सप्तपञ्चाशर्दाधिकशततमोब् ध्याय: कप नामक दानवोंके द्वारा स्वर्गलोकपर अधिकार जमा लेनेपर ब्राह्म॒णोंका कपोंको भस्म कर देना

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca

tṛṣṇīm āsīd arjunas tu pavanastv abravīt punaḥ |

śṛṇu me brāhmaṇeṣv eva mukhyaṃ karma janādhipa ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ— “ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର! ଏତେ ହେଲା ସତ୍ତ୍ୱେ କାର୍ତ୍ତବୀର୍ୟ ଅର୍ଜୁନ ନିରବ ରହିଲା। ତେବେ ବାୟୁଦେବ ପୁନଃ କହିଲେ— ‘ହେ ନରାଧିପ! ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନଙ୍କ ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧୀୟ ପ୍ରଧାନ କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ ଓ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଆଦର୍ଶ କର୍ମ ମୋ ପାଖରୁ ଶୁଣ।’”

Word by Word

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular

• तृष्णीम्: silently
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तृष्णीम्

• आसीत्: was
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna (Kartavirya Arjuna)
• अर्जुनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• पवनः: the Wind-god (Vayu)
• पवनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: and/but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• शृणु: listen
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Imperative, 2nd, Singular

• मे: of me / my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• ब्राह्मणेषु: among Brahmins / with regard to Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• एव: indeed/only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• मुख्यम्: chief, principal
• मुख्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कर्म: duty, act
• कर्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• जनाधिप: O lord of people (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनाधिप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Janādhipa)
• Vāyu (Pavana)
• Kārtavīrya Arjuna

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a dharma-instruction: the Wind-god is about to enumerate the foremost ‘karma’ (duties/exemplary conduct) specifically associated with Brahmins, implying that social and ethical order depends on each varṇa upholding its highest responsibilities.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s narration to Yudhishthira, Kartavīrya Arjuna falls silent; Vāyu resumes speaking and invites the king to hear further about the principal duties of Brahmins, continuing the didactic dialogue.