Shloka 4

शुकस्य योगसिद्धिः (Śuka’s Yogic Attainment and Ascent)

Devanagari script

वैदेहो जनको राजा महर्षि वेदवित्तमम्‌ । पर्यपृच्छत्‌ पञज्चशिखं छिन्नधर्मार्थसंशयम्‌

Transliteration

Vaideho Janako rājā maharṣi-vedavittamam | paryapṛcchat pañcaśikhaṁ chinna-dharmārtha-saṁśayam ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ବିଦେହର ରାଜା ଜନକ ବେଦର ପରମ ତତ୍ତ୍ୱ ଜାଣିବାକୁ ଇଚ୍ଛା କରି, ଧର୍ମ ଓ ଅର୍ଥ-ବିଷୟକ ସନ୍ଦେହ ଯାହାଙ୍କର ଛିନ୍ନ ହୋଇଯାଇଥିଲା ସେହି ମହର୍ଷି ପଞ୍ଚଶିଖଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ କଲେ, ଯେପରି ସଦାଚାର ଓ ସତ୍ପ୍ରୟୋଜନ ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ ହୋଇପାରେ।

Word by Word

• वैदेहः: the Videhan (man of Videha)
• वैदेहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जनकः: Janaka
• जनकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महर्षिम्: the great sage
• महर्षिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वेदवित्तमम्: the best knower of the Veda
• वेदवित्तमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदवित्तम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पर्यपृच्छत्: asked, questioned
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पञ्चशिखम्: Pañcaśikha
• पञ्चशिखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चशिख
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• छिन्नधर्मार्थसंशयम्: whose doubts about dharma and artha were cut off (resolved)
• छिन्नधर्मार्थसंशयम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिन्नधर्मार्थसंशय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Janaka
• Videha
• Pañcaśikha

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical method of learning: even a king should approach a realized teacher and inquire. True guidance on dharma (right conduct) and artha (right aims and welfare) is sought from one whose own doubts are already resolved.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma introduces an exemplum: King Janaka of Videha approaches and questions the sage Pañcaśikha, described as a foremost knower of Vedic wisdom and free from doubts about dharma and artha.