Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 556

Nāgendra–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda: Praśna-vidhi and Dharmic Approach on the Gomatī Riverbank

Devanagari script

बभूवान्तर्महीभूत: सर्वभूतगुणोदित: । नाद और स्वरसे विशिष्ट सामगानकी वह सर्वथा स्निग्ध एवं मधुर ध्वनि रसातलमें सब ओर फैल गयी, जो समस्त प्राणियोंके लिये गुणकारक थी

Transliteration

babhūvāntarmahībhūtaḥ sarvabhūtaguṇoditaḥ | nādaḥ svararase viśiṣṭaḥ sāmagānasya saḥ sarvathā snigdhaḥ madhuraś ca dhvaniḥ rasātale sarvato vyāptaḥ, yaḥ samasta-prāṇināṃ guṇakārakaḥ |

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ— ମନେ ହେଲା ପୃଥିବୀର ଅନ୍ତର୍ଗତରୁ ଏକ ଧ୍ୱନି ଉଦିତ ହେଲା, ଯାହା ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରାଣୀଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଗୁଣକର ଥିଲା। ନାଦ ଓ ସ୍ୱରରେ ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ, ସାମଗାନ ସଦୃଶ, ସେ ଧ୍ୱନି ସର୍ବଥା ସ୍ନିଗ୍ଧ ଓ ମଧୁର ଥିଲା। ତାହା ରସାତଳରେ ସବୁ ଦିଗକୁ ବ୍ୟାପିଗଲା।

Word by Word

• बभूव: became; came to be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथम, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अन्तर्महीभूतः: having become within the earth; turned into the inner earth
• अन्तर्महीभूतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर्महीभूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वभूतगुणोदितः: endowed with/manifesting the qualities of all beings
• सर्वभूतगुणोदितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वभूतगुणोदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

वैशग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Mahī (earth)
• Rasātala
• Sāmagāna (Sāmaveda chant)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage highlights the ethical and spiritual power of harmonious sound: a gentle, sweet, Veda-like resonance is portrayed as intrinsically guṇa-producing—cultivating refinement, calm, and uplift in all beings. In the Śānti context, it suggests that peace and virtue can be propagated not only by instruction but also by a pervasive atmosphere of sattvic harmony.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes a wondrous sound arising as if from within the earth, marked by the beauty of musical notes and the aesthetic ‘rasa’ of Sāman-chanting. This soothing resonance spreads throughout Rasātala (the nether regions), affecting all creatures beneficially.