Shloka 5
Rudra-Śiva: Names, Two Natures, and the Logic of Epithets (रुद्रनाम-बहुरूपत्व-प्रकरणम्)
पूर्वण वदनेनाहमिन्द्रत्वमनुशास्मि ह । उत्तरेण त्वया सार्थ रमाम्यहमनिन्दिते
pūrveṇa vadanenāham indratvam anuśāsmi ha | uttareṇa tvayā sārtha ramāmy aham anindite ||
கிழக்கு முகத்தால் நான் இந்திர பதவியின் ஒழுங்கை விதிக்கிறேன்; குற்றமற்றவளே, வடக்கு முகத்தால் உன்னுடன் உரையாடுவதில் நான் இன்புறுகிறேன்.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as ordered instruction: authority and governance (symbolized by Indra’s office) are to be regulated through proper injunctions, while ethical discourse is also sustained through respectful, pleasing dialogue with a worthy interlocutor.
Bhīṣma speaks in a stylized, symbolic manner, describing himself as addressing different matters through different ‘faces’ oriented to directions: one aspect of his speech issues rulings about sovereignty, while another aspect enjoys conversation with the addressed ‘blameless’ listener.