Shloka 666

बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account

On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics

Devanagari script

महर्षिभ्यो ददौ खड्गमृषयो वासवाय च । भगवान्‌ विष्णुने मरीचिको, मरीचिने महर्षियोंको और महर्षियोंने इन्द्रको वह खड्ग प्रदान किया

Transliteration

maharṣibhyo dadau khaḍgam ṛṣayo vāsavāya ca | bhagavān viṣṇune marīciko, marīcine maharṣīṃś ca, maharṣayas tu indraṃ taṃ khaḍgaṃ pradadau |

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଭଗବାନ ବିଷ୍ଣୁ ସେଇ ଖଡ୍ଗଟି ମରୀଚିଙ୍କୁ ଦେଲେ; ମରୀଚି ତାହା ମହର୍ଷିମାନଙ୍କୁ ଅର୍ପଣ କଲେ; ଏବଂ ମହର୍ଷିମାନେ ପୁନଃ ସେଇ ଖଡ୍ଗଟି ବାସବ (ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର)ଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରଦାନ କଲେ। ଏହିପରି ଏହି ଶସ୍ତ୍ର ଧର୍ମନିଷ୍ଠ ହସ୍ତମାନଙ୍କ ମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ପରମ୍ପରାରେ ନ୍ୟସ୍ତ ରହିଲା—ତାହାର ନ୍ୟାୟସଙ୍ଗତତା କେବଳ ବଳରେ ନୁହେଁ, ପବିତ୍ର ରକ୍ଷକ-ପରମ୍ପରା ଓ ଦାୟିତ୍ୱଶୀଳ ବ୍ୟବହାରରେ ଭିତ୍ତିସ୍ଥ।

Word by Word

• महर्षिभ्यः: to the great sages
• महर्षिभ्यः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Plural

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (दाने)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• खड्गम्: a sword
• खड्गम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ऋषयः: the sages
• ऋषयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वासवाय: to Vāsava (Indra)
• वासवाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासव
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

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

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Vishnu
• Marici
• Maharshis (great seers)
• Vasava (Indra)
• Khaḍga (sword)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power (especially martial power) is not self-justifying; it gains legitimacy through dharmic transmission and responsible custodianship. The sword is portrayed as a trust passed through sanctified authorities, implying restraint and ethical governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma recounts a lineage of possession: Vishnu gives a sword to the sage Marici; Marici passes it to the great seers; and the seers then grant it to Indra (Vasava). The focus is on how a potent weapon comes into rightful hands.