Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

स्पर्थ्यास्तरणसंकीर्ण ददुस्ता: परमस्त्रिय: । उन सुन्दरी रमणियोंने देवताओंके बैठने योग्य एक दिव्य पलंग, जिसमें रत्न जड़े हुए थे और जिसपर बहुमूल्य बिछौने बिछे थे, शुकदेवजीको सोनेके लिये दिया || ४० ई ।।

Transliteration

pādaśaucaṃ tu kṛtvaiva śukaḥ saṃdhyām upāsya ca | madhyarātre yathānyāyaṃ nidrām āhārayat prabhuḥ ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଶୁକଦେବ ପ୍ରଥମେ ପାଦପ୍ରକ୍ଷାଳନ ଆଦି ଶୌଚ କରି ସନ୍ଧ୍ୟୋପାସନା କଲେ। ପରେ ପବିତ୍ର ଆସନରେ ବସି ମୋକ୍ଷତତ୍ତ୍ୱକୁ ହିଁ ଚିନ୍ତନ କରିଲେ। ରାତିର ପ୍ରଥମ ଭାଗରେ ସେ ଧ୍ୟାନରେ ଲୀନ ରହିଲେ; ଏବଂ ମଧ୍ୟରାତ୍ରିରେ ନିୟମ-ମର୍ଯ୍ୟାଦାନୁସାରେ ସେଇ ପ୍ରଭାବଶାଳୀ ଋଷି ନିଦ୍ରା ଗ୍ରହଣ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• पादशौचम्: washing of the feet (and limbs)
• पादशौचम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पादशौच
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• कृत्वा: having done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त्वा, Active, Absolutive (having done)

• एव: just/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• शुकः: Śuka
• शुकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सन्ध्याम्: the twilight prayer (sandhyā)
• सन्ध्याम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• उपास्य: having worshipped/observed
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive), Active, Absolutive (having worshipped)

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

• मध्यरात्रे: at midnight
• मध्यरात्रे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यरात्रि
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• यथा: as/according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• न्यायम्: rule/propriety
• न्यायम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्याय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• निद्राम्: sleep
• निद्राम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आहारयत्: accepted/took (to himself)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-हृ
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Past, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्रभुः: the lord/mighty one
• प्रभुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Śuka (Śukadeva)
• Sandhyā (twilight worship)
• pavitra āsana (pure seat)
• nidrā (sleep)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined living: purity of body (washing), regular spiritual duty (Sandhyā worship), sustained contemplation of liberation, and even sleep taken only in a regulated, appropriate measure—showing that renunciation is not negligence but ordered self-governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes Śuka’s conduct at night: after cleansing and performing Sandhyā rites, he sits on a pure seat and meditates on mokṣa; he remains absorbed through the early night and only later, at midnight, accepts sleep according to proper ascetic discipline.