Shloka 3

Devanagari script

ते5पश्यन्‌ पुलिने तं वै विविक्ते नियतव्रतम्‌ । समासीन निराहारं द्विजं जप्पपरायणम्‌

Transliteration

te’paśyan puline taṃ vai vivikte niyatavratam | samāsīnaṃ nirāhāraṃ dvijaṃ jappaparāyaṇam ||

Translation

ସେମାନେ ଦେଖିଲେ—ଗୋମତୀ ନଦୀତଟର ଏକାନ୍ତ ସ୍ଥାନରେ ବ୍ରତ-ନିୟମରେ ଦୃଢ଼ ଏକ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ ନିରାହାର ଆସୀନ ହୋଇ ମନ୍ତ୍ରଜପରେ ପରାୟଣ ଅଛନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अपश्यन्: saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3, Plural, Parasmaipada

• पुलिने: on the sandbank/riverbank
• पुलिने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलिन
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• विविक्ते: in a secluded (place)
• विविक्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविक्त
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• नियतव्रतम्: one of restrained vows
• नियतव्रतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत-व्रत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• समासीनम्: seated
• समासीनम्: Karma
• Type: Participle
• Root: सम्-आस्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle, used adjectivally)

• निराहारम्: fasting; without food
• निराहारम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-आहार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• द्विजम्: a brahmin (twice-born)
• द्विजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• जपपरायणम्: devoted to mantra-recitation
• जपपरायणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप-परायण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• भीष्म (Bhīṣma) (speaker)
• द्विज (a Brahmin)
• पुलिन (riverbank/sandbank)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds dharmic discipline: steadfast vows (vrata-niyama), fasting (nirāhāra), and inward devotion through mantra-repetition (japa). Ethical strength is shown as self-mastery pursued in solitude, not for recognition.

What is happening in the narrative?

Some observers come upon a Brahmin sitting alone on a riverbank. He is fasting and absorbed in japa, indicating a life of regulated vows and spiritual practice, setting the stage for a teaching or encounter centered on ascetic merit and dharma.