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Shloka 38

अम्बोपाख्याने तापसानां विचारः तथा होत्रवाहनस्य उपदेशः

Ambā among ascetics; Hotravāhana directs her to Paraśurāma

ततस्तत्र महानासीद्‌ ब्राह्मण: संशितव्रत:ः । शैखावत्यस्तपोवृद्धः शास्त्रे चारण्यके गुरु: ३८ ।। उस आश्रममें कठोर व्रतका पालन करनेवाले शैखावत्य नामसे प्रसिद्ध एक तपोवृद्ध श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मण रहते थे, जो शास्त्र और आरण्यक आदिकी शिक्षा देनेवाले सदगुरु थे

tatastatra mahān āsīd brāhmaṇaḥ saṁśitavrataḥ | śaikhāvatyas tapovṛddhaḥ śāstre cāraṇyake guruḥ || 38 ||

ततस्तत्र महानासीद् ब्राह्मणः संशितव्रतः । शैखावत्यस्तपोवृद्धः शास्त्रे चारण्यके गुरुः ॥

ततःthen, thereafter
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततस्
Formindeclinable (ablatival adverb: 'from that/thereafter')
तत्रthere, in that place
तत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र
Formindeclinable (locative adverb)
महान्great
महान्:
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
आसीत्was
आसीत्:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
Formimperfect (laṅ), 3rd person, singular, parasmaipada
ब्राह्मणःa Brahmin
ब्राह्मणः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
संशितव्रतःof sharpened/strict vows; observing severe vows
संशितव्रतः:
TypeAdjective
Rootसंशित-व्रत
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
शैखावत्यःŚaikhāvatya (name/epithet)
शैखावत्यः:
TypeNoun
Rootशैखावत्य
Formmasculine, nominative, singular (proper name/epithet)
तपोवृद्धःadvanced in austerity; aged/ripe in tapas
तपोवृद्धः:
TypeAdjective
Rootतपस्-वृद्ध
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
शास्त्रेin the śāstra; in scripture/learning
शास्त्रे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootशास्त्र
Formneuter, locative, singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
Formindeclinable conjunction
आरण्यकेin the Āraṇyaka (texts); in forest-treatises
आरण्यके:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootआरण्यक
Formneuter, locative, singular
गुरुःteacher, preceptor
गुरुः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगुरु
Formmasculine, nominative, singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
Ś
Śaikhāvatya
B
brāhmaṇa
Ā
āśrama (hermitage)

Educational Q&A

The verse upholds the ideal of a guru whose authority rests on disciplined vows (vrata), austerity (tapas), and mastery of sacred learning (śāstra and Āraṇyaka). Ethical leadership is grounded in self-restraint and transmission of right knowledge.

Bhīṣma describes a particular hermitage where an eminent brāhmaṇa named Śaikhāvatya resides. The description introduces him as a venerable ascetic-teacher, setting the stage for counsel or instruction associated with that āśrama.