Shloka 107

मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity

Devanagari script

स रथैनन्दिघोषैश्न पृष्ठतो हानुगम्यते । देवकन्यासमारूढै: काउ्चनैर्विमलै: शुभै:

Transliteration

sa rathair nandighoṣaiś ca pṛṣṭhato 'nugamyate | devakanyā-samārūḍhaiḥ kāñcanaiḥ vimalaiḥ śubhaiḥ ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు పలికెను— అతని వెనుక ఆనందభరిత విజయఘోషంతో నినదించే, మేఘగర్జనవలె గంభీరధ్వనిగల అనేక రథాలు అనుసరిస్తాయి. ఆ రథాలు కాంచనమయాలు, నిర్మలాలు, మంగళప్రదాలు; వాటిపై దేవకన్యలు ఆరూఢులై ఉంటారు. (ఇతి శ్రీమహాభారతే అనుశాసనపర్వణి దానధర్మపర్వణి ఉపవాసవిధిర్నామ సప్తాధికశతతమోऽధ్యాయః।)

Word by Word

• सः: he/that (person)
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रथैः: by/with chariots
• रथैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नन्दिघोषैः: with joyful victory-cries
• नन्दिघोषैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिघोष
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• पृष्ठतः: from behind/at the back
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठ

• अनुगम्यते: is followed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-गम्
• Form: Present, Passive, Third, Singular

• देवकन्यासमारूढैः: mounted by celestial maidens
• देवकन्यासमारूढैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवकन्या-समारूढ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• काञ्चनैः: golden
• काञ्चनैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• विमलैः: spotless/pure
• विमलैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शुभैः: auspicious
• शुभैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• chariots (ratha)
• celestial maidens (devakanyā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents a vivid image of the auspicious results of dharmic conduct—especially charity and disciplined observances like fasting—showing that merit (puṇya) brings honor, purity, and elevated companionship, symbolized by golden chariots and celestial attendants.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is describing the posthumous or otherworldly honor accorded to a righteous person: a grand procession of resonant chariots follows him, and celestial maidens ride upon those auspicious vehicles, proclaiming his merit.