Shloka 3

Brāhmaṇa-pūjā, Haviḥ-dāna, and the Vāsudeva–Pṛthivī Saṃvāda

Chapter 34

Devanagari script

नारदं प्राउ्जलिं दृष्टवा पूजयान द्विजर्षभान्‌ । केशव: परिपप्रच्छ भगवन्‌ कान्‌ नमस्यसि

Transliteration

nāradaṃ prāñjaliṃ dṛṣṭvā pūjayān dvijarṣabhān | keśavaḥ paripapraccha bhagavan kān namasyasi ||

Translation

Бхишма сказал: «Однажды Кешава (Кришна) увидел, как божественный риши Нарада, сложив ладони, воздаёт почести лучшим из брахманов, и спросил его: “О досточтимый, кому ты возносишь поклон?”»

Word by Word

• नारदम्: Narada
• नारदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्राञ्जलिम्: with joined palms (in reverence)
• प्राञ्जलिम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राञ्जलि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• पूजयन्: worshipping
• पूजयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्विजर्षभान्: the best of the twice-born (excellent Brahmins)
• द्विजर्षभान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजर्षभ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• केशवः: Keshava (Krishna)
• केशवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परिपप्रच्छ: asked (inquired)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भगवन्: O venerable one / O Lord
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• कान्: whom (which persons)
• कान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नमस्यसि: you bow to / you salute
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (नमस्य)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Narada
• Keshava (Krishna)
• dvijarṣabha (foremost Brahmins)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds dharmic etiquette: sincere reverence toward the worthy (especially exemplary Brahmins) is a visible marker of ethical culture, and Krishna’s question frames a reflective inquiry into who truly deserves honor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Narada is seen with folded hands honoring eminent Brahmins; Krishna notices this act of worship/respect and asks Narada whom he is saluting, setting up an explanation about the proper objects of veneration.