Shloka 2

Devanagari script

तमतिक्रम्य नागेन्द्रो मतिमान्‌ स नरेश्वर । प्रोवाच मधुरं वाक्यं प्रकृत्या धर्मवत्सल:

Transliteration

tam atikramya nāgendro matimān sa nareśvara | provāca madhuraṃ vākyaṃ prakṛtyā dharmavatsalaḥ ||

Translation

அவனை அணுகிய பின், இயல்பாகவே தர்மத்தை நேசிக்கும் அறிவுடைய நாகேந்திரன் இனிய சொற்களால் பேசினான்.

Word by Word

तम्him

अतिक्रम्यhaving passed/overstepped

नागेन्द्रःthe lord of serpents

मतिमान्intelligent, wise

सःhe

नरेश्वरO lord of men (king)

प्रोवाचsaid, spoke forth

मधुरम्sweet, pleasant

वाक्यम्speech, words

प्रकृत्याby nature, naturally

धर्मवत्सलःfond of dharma, devoted to righteousness

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

nareśvara (the king, addressed)

nāgendra (lord of serpents)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical communication: a truly dharma-loving person speaks with gentleness and sweetness, especially when addressing a ruler. Wisdom is shown not only in intent but also in the manner of speech.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates that the nāga-chief, after moving past someone (tam atikramya), turns to the king and speaks in a pleasing, gentle manner, emphasizing his innate devotion to dharma.