Shloka 7

Gratitude, Discernment, and the Escalation of Power (Śvā–Dvipī–Vyāghra–Nāga–Siṃha–Śarabha Itihāsa)

Devanagari script

ते सुखप्रश्नदा: सर्वे भवन्ति क्षतजाशना: । तस्यर्षे: शिष्यवच्चैव न्यग्भूता: प्रियकारिण:,यद्यपि वे सारे-के-सारे मांसाहारी हिंसक जानवर थे, तो भी उस ऋषिके शिष्यकी भाँति नीचे सिर किये उनके पास बैठते थे, उनके सुख और स्वास्थ्यकी बात पूछते थे और सदा उनका प्रिय करते थे

Transliteration

te sukhapraśnadāḥ sarve bhavanti kṣatajāśanāḥ | tasyarṣeḥ śiṣyavac caiva nyagbhūtāḥ priyakāriṇaḥ ||

Translation

వారు అందరూ—మాంసాహారులు, హింసకులు అయినప్పటికీ—ఆ ఋషి సన్నిధిలో శిష్యులవలె తల వంచి ఆయన దగ్గర కూర్చుండి, ఆయన క్షేమసమాచారం అడిగి, ఎల్లప్పుడూ ఆయనకు ప్రీతికరమైనదే చేసేవారు.

Word by Word

तेthey (those)

सुख-प्रश्न-दाःaskers of (his) welfare/health

सर्वेall

भवन्तिare / become

क्षतज-अशनाःblood-eaters (carnivorous)

तस्यof him / of that (sage)

ऋषेःof the sage

शिष्यवत्like disciples

चand

एवindeed / just

न्यग्भूताःbent down / with heads lowered

प्रिय-कारिणःdoing what is pleasing (to him)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

an unnamed ṛṣi (sage)

the sage’s disciples (as a comparison)

carnivorous/violent animals or beings (implied by kṣatajāśanāḥ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even beings inclined to violence can be restrained and morally softened by the presence of a truly disciplined sage; reverence, humility, and concern for another’s welfare are marks of dharmic influence that can transform conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes how flesh-eating, violent creatures nevertheless sit near a sage with bowed heads, inquire about his well-being, and behave like obedient disciples—highlighting the sage’s spiritual authority and the pacifying effect of his virtue.