Shloka 61

Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)

Devanagari script

ततो ययुर्भूतगणा: सरितश्न॒ यथागतम्‌ | गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्वैव प्रणम्य शिरसा भवम्‌

Transliteration

tato yayur bhūta-gaṇāḥ saritaś ca yathāgatam | gandharvāpsarasaś caiva praṇamya śirasā bhavam ||

Translation

அதன்பின் பூதகணங்களும் நதிகளும் வந்தபடியே திரும்பிச் சென்றன. கந்தர்வர்களும் அப்சரஸ்களும் கூட பவனாகிய (சிவனாகிய) அவரைத் தலைவணங்கி, தத்தம் இருப்பிடங்களுக்கு சென்றனர்.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• ययुः: went
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/परफेक्ट), परस्मैपदम्, 3, plural

• भूतगणाः: hosts of beings (attendants)
• भूतगणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतगण
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• सरितः: rivers
• सरितः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित्
• Form: feminine, nominative, plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• यथा: as, according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• आगतम्: come/arrived (state); as they had come
• आगतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) / आगत (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त, neuter, accusative, singular

• गन्धर्व: Gandharvas
• गन्धर्व: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural (understood)

• अप्सरसः: Apsarases
• अप्सरसः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस्
• Form: feminine, nominative, plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वान्त/absolutive), कर्तरि

• शिरसा: with (their) head
• शिरसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: neuter, instrumental, singular

• भवम्: Bhava (Śiva)
• भवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhava (Śiva)
• Bhūta-gaṇas
• Saritas (rivers, personified)
• Gandharvas
• Apsarases

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights proper reverence and orderly conduct in a sacred setting: divine beings depart only after paying homage to Śiva, reflecting dharmic etiquette—honor to the divine and disciplined closure after instruction.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Pārvatī’s discourse on strī-dharma (women’s duties/ethics) and Śiva’s honoring of her, Śiva dismisses the gathered retinue; the bhūta-gaṇas, rivers, Gandharvas, and Apsarases bow to him and return to their own abodes.