Shloka 6

Chapter 84: Brahmā’s Counsel on Tāraka, the Search for Agni, and the Genesis of Skanda

Kārttikeya

Devanagari script

अपि चात्र पुरागीतां कथयिष्यामि तेडनघ

Transliteration

api cātra purāgītāṃ kathayiṣyāmi te 'naghā | niṣpāpa nareśa | asmin viṣaye tvāṃ purā-vṛttāntaṃ śrāvayāmi | ekadā parama-buddhimān śukadevaḥ nitya-karmānuṣṭhānaṃ kṛtvā pavitraḥ śuddha-cittaś ca san, ṛṣi-śreṣṭhaṃ pitaraṃ śrī-kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyanaṃ vyāsaṃ, yaḥ lokasya bhūta-bhaviṣyat pratyakṣa-darśī, praṇamya papraccha— “pitāḥ! sarveṣu yajñeṣu kaḥ yajñaḥ śreṣṭhatamo dṛśyate?”

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ— ହେ ନିଷ୍ପାପ ରାଜା! ଏହି ବିଷୟରେ ମୁଁ ତୁମକୁ ଗୋଟିଏ ପୁରାତନ ବୃତ୍ତାନ୍ତ କହିବି। ଏକଦା ପରମ ବୁଦ୍ଧିମାନ ଶୁକଦେବ ନିତ୍ୟକର୍ମ ସମ୍ପାଦନ କରି ଶୁଚି ଓ ସଂଯତମନ ହୋଇ, ଋଷିମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଏବଂ ଭୂତ-ଭବିଷ୍ୟତକୁ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟକ୍ଷ ଦେଖୁଥିବା ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣଦ୍ୱୈପାୟନ ବ୍ୟାସଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରଣାମ କରି ପଚାରିଲେ— “ପିତାଜୀ! ସମସ୍ତ ଯଜ୍ଞମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ କେଉଁ ଯଜ୍ଞ ସର୍ବଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଭାବେ ଗଣ୍ୟ?”

Word by Word

• अपि: also, moreover
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

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

• अत्र: here, in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र

• पुरा: formerly, long ago
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा

• गीताम्: sung/recited (story) (acc.)
• गीताम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• कथयिष्यामि: I will narrate/tell
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (कथयति)
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Dative, Singular

• अनघ: O sinless one
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनघ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Śukadeva
• Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa
• King (addressed as nareśa; traditionally Yudhiṣṭhira in context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage frames ethical-ritual inquiry as requiring inner and outer purity: one performs one’s daily duties, approaches a worthy teacher with humility, and then asks about the hierarchy of dharmic acts—here, which yajña is truly supreme.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma begins an ‘ancient account’ for the king: Śukadeva, after completing his daily observances, bows to his father Vyāsa—described as a seer of past and future—and asks him which sacrifice is considered the greatest among all sacrifices.