Shloka 1

Gautama’s Flight, the Enchanted Grove, and the Arrival of Rājadharma

Nāḍījaṅgha

Devanagari script

/ ऑपन-माज बछ। -ज:डि द्विषष्ट्याधिकशततमो< ध्याय: सत्यके लक्षण

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | satyaṃ dharmaṃ praśaṃsanti viprarṣipitṛdevatāḥ | satyam icchāmy ahaṃ śrotuṃ tan me brūhi pitāmaha ||

Translation

Юдхиштхира сказал: «Брахманы, мудрецы-риши, предки и боги — все превозносят правдивость как облик дхармы. Потому я желаю услышать, что же такое “истина” по существу — скажи мне это, о Дед-Прародитель».

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhishthira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धर्मम्: dharma, righteous duty
• धर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रशंसन्ति: praise
• Type: Verb
• Root: शंस्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• विप्राः: brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पितरः: manes, ancestors
• पितरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• देवताः: deities
• देवताः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• इच्छामि: I wish, I desire
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Present, First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम्
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Tumun (infinitive)

• तत्: that (i.e., it)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मे: to me / for me
• मे: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Dative, Singular

• ब्रूहि: tell (me)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पितामह: O grandsire
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

युधिषछ्िर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Bhīṣma (Pitāmaha)
• viprāḥ (Brahmins)
• ṛṣayaḥ (Sages)
• pitaraḥ (Ancestors)
• devatāḥ (Gods)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Truthfulness (satya) is presented as a central expression of dharma, praised across human and divine authorities; the verse frames satya as foundational to moral order and worthy of precise definition.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma as ‘Grandfather’ and requests a clear explanation of what truth is, setting up Bhīṣma’s forthcoming discourse on satya—its nature, marks, and greatness.