Shloka 5

धर्मद्वारबहुत्वविमर्शः — Reflection on the Many ‘Doors’ of Dharma (Śānti-parva 342)

Devanagari script

अर्जुन उवाच भगवन्‌ भूतभव्येश सर्वभूतसृगव्यय । लोकधाम जगन्नाथ लोकानामभयप्रद

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca bhagavan bhūtabhavyēśa sarvabhūtasṛgavyaya | lokadhāma jagannātha lokānām abhayaprada ||

Translation

ଅର୍ଜୁନ କହିଲେ—ହେ ଭଗବନ୍! ଭୂତ-ଭବିଷ୍ୟର ଈଶ୍ୱର, ସମସ୍ତ ଭୂତଙ୍କ ସ୍ରଷ୍ଟା ହୋଇ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅବ୍ୟୟ; ଲୋକଧାମ, ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ, ସମସ୍ତ ଲୋକଙ୍କୁ ଅଭୟ ଦେବାଳା!

Word by Word

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular

• भगवन्: O Lord
• भगवन्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• भूत: of beings (past beings)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• भव्य: of future (beings)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव्य
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• ईश: O Lord/master
• ईश: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सर्वभूतसृक्: O creator of all beings
• सर्वभूतसृक्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-भूत-सृज्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अव्यय: O imperishable one
• अव्यय: Sampradana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• लोकधामन्: O abode of the worlds
• लोकधामन्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक-धामन्
• Form: Neuter, Vocative, Singular

• जगन्नाथ: O Lord of the universe
• जगन्नाथ: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत्-नाथ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds / of people
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अभयप्रद: O giver of fearlessness
• अभयप्रद: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय-प्रद
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Bhagavān (the Lord addressed)
• the worlds (lokāḥ)
• the universe (jagat)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames the Lord as both the source of all beings and yet beyond decay, emphasizing a devotional ethic: true refuge and fearlessness arise from recognizing a supreme protector who upholds the worlds and transcends time.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna addresses the Lord with a sequence of exalted epithets—lord of past and future, creator yet imperishable, abode of the worlds, and giver of fearlessness—setting a reverent tone before seeking guidance, reassurance, or instruction.