Shloka 1

एकान्तिधर्म-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into Ekāntin Dharma) / The Origin and Practice of Single-Pointed Nārāyaṇa-Centered Discipline

Devanagari script

(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका ३ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ४५३ श्लोक हैं) #द-2८5- | पर ॥ #* पजञ्चत्रिशर्दाधिकत्रिशततमो< ध्याय: नारदजीका श्वेतद्वीपदर्शन

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | sa evam ukto dvipadāṁ variṣṭho nārāyaṇenottama-pūruṣeṇa | jagāda vākyaṁ dvipadāṁ variṣṭa nārāyaṇaṁ loka-hitādhivāsam ||

Translation

ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਯੁਧਿਸ਼ਠਿਰ! ਜਦੋਂ ਪੁਰੁਸ਼ੋਤਮ ਭਗਵਾਨ ਨਾਰਾਇਣ ਨੇ ਨਰਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ ਨਾਰਦ ਜੀ ਨੂੰ ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ, ਤਦੋਂ ਪੁਰੁਸ਼-ਪ੍ਰਵਰ ਨਾਰਦ ਜੀ ਨੇ ਲੋਕ-ਹਿਤ ਦੇ ਆਸਰੇ ਭਗਵਾਨ ਨਾਰਾਇਣ ਨੂੰ ਉੱਤਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਸ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਰ ਕਿਹਾ।

Word by Word

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्तः: having been addressed/said to
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (kta)

• द्विपदाम्: of bipeds (men)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विपद
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• वरिष्ठः: the best/supreme
• वरिष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरिष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Superlative

• नारायणेन: by Narayana
• नारायणेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• उत्तमपूरुषेण: by the supreme Person
• उत्तमपूरुषेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तमपूरुष
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• जगाद: said/uttered
• Type: Verb
• Root: गद्
• Form: Perfect, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वाक्यम्: a statement/words
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• द्विपदाम्: of bipeds (men)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विपद
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• वरिष्ठः: the best/supreme
• वरिष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरिष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Superlative

• नारायणम्: Narayana
• नारायणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• लोकहिताधिवासम्: abode/support of the welfare of the world
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोकहिताधिवास
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Nārāyaṇa
• Nārada

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse establishes the ethical frame of the discourse: teachings about God and dharma are presented as loka-hita—meant for the welfare of the world. It also underscores humility and reverence in spiritual inquiry: even the greatest sages speak as respondents before the Supreme.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma narrates a shift in the dialogue: after Nārāyaṇa speaks to Nārada, Nārada begins his reply. This sets up the forthcoming account connected with Śvetadvīpa and related Vaiṣṇava themes (as indicated by the chapter’s traditional topic).