Shloka 21

Bhīṣma on the Śara-Śayyā: Yudhiṣṭhira and Kṛṣṇa Approach the Eldest for Śānti

Devanagari script

ऋते शान्तनवाद्‌ भीष्मात्‌ त्रिषु लोकेषु पार्थिव । सत्यधर्मान्महावीर्याच्छूराद्‌ धर्मेकतत्परात्‌

Transliteration

ṛte śāntanavād bhīṣmāt triṣu lokeṣu pārthiva | satyadharmān mahāvīryāc chūrād dharmaikatatparāt ||

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ହେ ପୃଥିବୀନାଥ! ତିନି ଲୋକରେ ଶାନ୍ତନୁନନ୍ଦନ ଭୀଷ୍ମଙ୍କୁ ଛାଡ଼ି—ସତ୍ୟବାଦୀ, ଧର୍ମନିଷ୍ଠ, ମହାବୀର୍ଯ୍ୟଶାଳୀ ଶୂର ଓ ଧର୍ମରେ ଏକାନ୍ତତତ୍ପର—ଏମିତି ଅନ୍ୟ କାହାକୁ ମୁଁ ଶୁଣିନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• ऋते: except, without
• ऋते: Apadana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऋते

• शान्तनवात्: from/than the son of Śāntanu (i.e., Bhīṣma)
• शान्तनवात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्तनव
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• भीष्मात्: than Bhīṣma
• भीष्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• त्रिषु: in the three
• त्रिषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• लोकेषु: worlds
• लोकेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• पार्थिव: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सत्यधर्मात्: than one whose dharma is truth / from truth-and-dharma
• सत्यधर्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यधर्म
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• महावीर्यात्: than one of great prowess
• महावीर्यात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महावीर्य
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• शूरात्: than a hero
• शूरात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• धर्मे: in dharma
• धर्मे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• एकतत्परात्: than one devoted to a single (dharma)
• एकतत्परात्: Apadana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकतत्पर
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīṣma
• Śāntanu
• three worlds (trailokya)
• Pārthiva (the king addressed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse elevates steadfast commitment to truth and dharma, showing that disciplined tapas and unwavering vows can grant extraordinary self-mastery—so profound that even the timing of death may be restrained.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana praises Bhīṣma as uniquely unparalleled across the three worlds: a dharma-centered hero whose ascetic power and vow enabled him to postpone the body’s natural death, a hallmark of Bhīṣma’s famed control over his end.