Shloka 20

Adhyāya 348: Nāga–Nīgabhāryā Saṃvāda on Anger, Hope, and Ethical Response

Devanagari script

त्रिगुणो विगुण श्षतुरात्मधर: पूर्तेष्टयोश्न फलभागहर: । विदधातु नित्यमजितो5तिचलो गतिमात्मगां सुकृतिनामृषीणाम्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | triguṇo viguṇaś catur-ātma-dharaḥ pūrteṣṭayoś ca phala-bhāga-haraḥ | vidadhātu nityam ajito 'ti-calo gatim ātma-gāṃ sukṛtinām ṛṣīṇām ||

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ— ଯିଏ ତ୍ରିଗୁଣ ସହ ସଂଯୁକ୍ତ ହୋଇଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ପ୍ରକୃତରେ ନିର୍ଗୁଣ, ବାସୁଦେବ-ସଙ୍କର୍ଷଣ-ପ୍ରଦ୍ୟୁମ୍ନ-ଅନିରୁଦ୍ଧ ଏହି ଚତୁର୍ବ୍ୟୂହ ରୂପ ଧାରଣ କରନ୍ତି, ଇଷ୍ଟ (ଯଜ୍ଞାଦି) ଓ ଆପୂର୍ତ (କୂପ-ବାପୀ-ତଡାଗ ନିର୍ମାଣାଦି) କର୍ମର ଫଳଭାଗ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରନ୍ତି, ଯିଏ ସଦା ଅଜେୟ ଏବଂ ଧୈର୍ୟ-ମର୍ଯ୍ୟାଦାରୁ କେବେ ଚଳିତ ହୁଅନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ— ସେହି ଭଗବାନ୍ ଶ୍ରୀହରି ପୁଣ୍ୟାତ୍ମ ଋଷିମାନଙ୍କୁ ଆତ୍ମଜ୍ଞାନଜନ୍ୟ ପରମ ସଦ୍ଗତି ନିରନ୍ତର ପ୍ରଦାନ କରନ୍ତୁ।

Word by Word

• त्रिगुणः: having three guṇas / threefold in qualities
• त्रिगुणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिगुण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विगुणः: without guṇas / beyond qualities
• विगुणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विगुण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• चतुरात्मधरः: bearer of four forms (vyūhas)
• चतुरात्मधरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुरात्मधर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पूर्तेष्टयोः: of pūrta and iṣṭa (charitable works and sacrifices)
• पूर्तेष्टयोः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्तेष्ट
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Dual

• फलभागहरः: taker of the share of the fruit
• फलभागहरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फलभागहर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विदधातु: may (he) bestow / ordain
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धा (दधाति)
• Form: Imperative (Lot), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• नित्यम्: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• अजितः: unconquered / invincible
• अजितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अतिचलः: not wavering / not deviating (very steady)
• अतिचलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिचल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• आत्मगाम्: leading to the Self / self-realization-going
• आत्मगाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मग
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• सुकृतिनाम्: of the virtuous / meritorious ones
• सुकृतिनाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुकृतिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• ऋषीणाम्: of the sages
• ऋषीणाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Hari (Śrīhari)
• Vāsudeva
• Saṅkarṣaṇa
• Pradyumna
• Aniruddha
• ṛṣis (sages)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises the Lord as both immanent (connected with the three guṇas and the fruits of ritual/charity) and transcendent (beyond guṇas), and presents liberation as His gift: the highest ‘gati’ arises from inward Self-knowledge and is granted to the righteous sages through divine grace.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśampāyana’s narration within Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, a benedictory eulogy is offered to Śrīhari, identifying Him with the fourfold forms (Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, Aniruddha) and praying that He bestow the supreme destiny upon meritorious ṛṣis.