Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

पद्मवर्णनिभं चैव विमानमधिरोहति । कृष्णा: कनकगोर्यश्व नार्य: श्यामास्तथापरा:

Transliteration

padmavarṇanibhaṃ caiva vimānam adhirohati | kṛṣṇāḥ kanakagauryaśva nāryaḥ śyāmās tathāparāḥ ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు పలికెను—అనంతరం అతడు పద్మవర్ణమువలె కాంతిమంతమైన విమానమును అధిరోహిస్తాడు. దాని చుట్టూ స్త్రీలు ఉంటారు—కొందరు కృష్ణవర్ణులు, కొందరు కనకగౌరులు, మరికొందరు శ్యామలవర్ణులు—అని శోభాయుత పరివారం ఏర్పడుతుంది।

Word by Word

पद्मवर्णनिभम्resembling the color of a lotus

चand

एवindeed/just

विमानम्a celestial car/palace (vimāna)

अधिरोहतिmounts/ascends

कृष्णाःdark-complexioned women

कनकगौर्यःgolden-fair women

अश्वनार्यःwomen (named/associated with) Aśvā; or horse(-like/horse-associated) women

श्यामाःdark women

तथाlikewise/so also

अपराःothers

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

vimāna (celestial chariot/vehicle)

padma (lotus)

nāryaḥ (women/attendants)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contributes to a broader ethical frame common in the Anuśāsana Parva: righteous conduct and accumulated merit are portrayed as leading to exalted states, symbolized here by ascent into a radiant celestial vehicle and an honored retinue.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes a figure mounting a lotus-hued celestial vimāna, accompanied by women of various complexions, emphasizing splendor and the imagery of heavenly attainment.