Shloka 101

Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

बाह्यानन्यानपेक्षन्ते गुणांस्तानपि मे शूणु

Transliteration

bāhyān anyān apekṣante guṇāṁs tān api me śṛṇu

Translation

ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਲੋਕ ਬਾਹਰ ਵੱਲ ਤੱਕਦੇ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਗੁਣਾਂ-ਪੁੰਨਾਂ ਲਈ ਹੋਰਨਾਂ ਉੱਤੇ ਨਿਰਭਰ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ; ਉਹ ਗੁਣ ਵੀ ਮੇਰੇ ਕੋਲੋਂ ਸੁਣ।

Word by Word

• बाह्यान्: external (ones)
• बाह्यान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाह्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अन्यान्: others
• अन्यान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अपेक्षन्ते: they depend on / look to
• अपेक्षन्ते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अपेक्ष्
• Form: Present (Lat), Third, Plural, Atmanepada

• गुणान्: qualities, virtues
• गुणान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अपि: also, even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• मे: of me / my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• शृणु: hear, listen
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Imperative (Lot), Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma highlights a tendency to seek virtue or moral support externally—through others or outward factors—and signals that he will explain the relevant qualities, implying a reflective, ethical inquiry into where true guṇa is grounded.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Bhīṣma continues his instruction, transitioning into a discussion of certain virtues/qualities that people commonly associate with external sources, inviting the listener to attend to his explanation.