Shloka 19

इन्द्र–बलि संवादः

The Dialogue of Indra and Bali on Fortune, Humility, and Restraint

Devanagari script

ब्रह्म तत्‌ परमं ज्ञानममृतं ज्योतिरक्षरम्‌ । ये विदुर्भावितात्मानस्ते यान्ति परमां गतिम्‌

Transliteration

brahma tat paramaṁ jñānam amṛtaṁ jyotir akṣaram | ye vidur bhāvitātmānas te yānti paramāṁ gatim ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ବ୍ରହ୍ମ ହେଉଛି ପରମ ଜ୍ଞାନ—ଅମୃତ, ଅକ୍ଷର, ସ୍ୱୟଂପ୍ରକାଶ ଜ୍ୟୋତି; ସେ ଗୁଣାତୀତ। ଯେ ଶୁଦ୍ଧ ଓ ସାଧିତ ଅନ୍ତଃକରଣବାନ୍ ମହାତ୍ମାମାନେ ତାହାକୁ ଯଥାର୍ଥ ଜାଣନ୍ତି, ସେମାନେ ପରମ ଗତିକୁ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ହୁଅନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्म: Brahman (the Absolute)
• ब्रह्म: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अमृतम्: immortality; nectar
• अमृतम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• ज्योतिः: light; radiance
• ज्योतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अक्षरम्: imperishable
• अक्षरम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षर
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विदुः: know
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• भावितात्मानः: self-disciplined; purified in mind
• भावितात्मानः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भावितात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• यान्ति: go; attain
• Type: Verb
• Root: या
• Form: Present (Laṭ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• गतिम्: goal; state; destination
• गतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Brahman is described as the imperishable, self-luminous, deathless reality that is identical with supreme spiritual knowledge; those who purify and discipline the inner self and realize Brahman attain the highest end (paramā gati), i.e., liberation.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s post-war instruction, Bhishma continues teaching Yudhishthira about the highest dharma: moving from external duties toward inner purification and realization of Brahman as the ultimate goal.