Shloka 38

Adhyāya 325: Nārada in Śvetadvīpa—Stotra to the Nirguṇa Mahātman

Devanagari script

क्रीडन्त्यश्व हसन्त्यश्न गायन्त्यश्वापिता: शुभम्‌

Transliteration

krīḍanty aśva hasanty aśn gayanty aśvāpītāḥ śubham

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—“ସେମାନେ କ୍ରୀଡ଼ା କରନ୍ତି, ହସନ୍ତି, ଭୋଜନ କରନ୍ତି, ଏବଂ ଅଶ୍ୱଯଜ୍ଞର ପାନ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରି ମଙ୍ଗଳଗୀତ ଗାନ୍ତି—ଏହା ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ଓ ଯଜ୍ଞସିଦ୍ଧିର ବାହ୍ୟ ଚିହ୍ନ; କିନ୍ତୁ ସତ୍ୟ ପୁଣ୍ୟ ଧର୍ମଯୁକ୍ତ ଭାବ ଓ ଆଚରଣ ଉପରେ ନିର୍ଭର କରେ।”

Word by Word

• क्रीडन्ति: they play
• क्रीडन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रीड्
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथम, बहुवचन

• अश्वाः: horses
• अश्वाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• हसन्ति: they laugh
• हसन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: हस्
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथम, बहुवचन

• अश्नन्ति: they eat
• अश्नन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश्
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथम, बहुवचन

• गायन्ति: they sing
• गायन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथम, बहुवचन

• अश्वापिताः: having been made/treated as horses (horse-like); (contextually) horse-possessed/horse-provided
• अश्वापिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्वापित
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शुभम्: auspiciousness; good (thing)
• शुभम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• aśva (horse / aśvamedha context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Ritual success and social celebration are depicted as signs of prosperity, but the ethical implication is that true dharmic merit is grounded in right intention and conduct, not merely in festive enjoyment after a sacrifice.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes people rejoicing—playing, laughing, eating, and singing auspiciously—after drinking the sacrificial drink associated with the horse-sacrifice context, portraying a scene of communal celebration following a successful rite.