Shloka 76

Nārada–Vāyu–Śalmali Upākhyāna: Enmity with the Strong and the Primacy of Buddhi (नारद-वायु-शल्मलि उपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

चरिष्यमाण इन्द्रोतं शौनकं संशितव्रतम्‌ | राजन! यहाँ मैं जो इतिहास बता रहा हूँ

Transliteration

cariṣyamāṇa indrotaṃ śaunakaṃ saṃśitavratam | rājan! iha ahaṃ yo itihāsaṃ bravīmi sa dharmasya vṛddhi-karaḥ | rājā janamejayaḥ sva-pāpa-karmabhiḥ dagdhaḥ vane caran dṛḍha-vrata-parāyaṇaṃ śaunaka-vaṃśyaṃ indrotaṃ muniṃ samupāgamat ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు పలికెను—ఓ రాజా! నేను చెప్పబోయే పురాతన ఇతిహాసము ధర్మవృద్ధికరము. తన పాపకర్మఫలముచేత దగ్ధుడై అరణ్యములో సంచరిస్తున్న రాజు జనమేజయుడు కఠోరవ్రతనిష్ఠుడైన శౌనకవంశీయ ముని ఇంద్రోతుని శరణు చేరెను।

Word by Word

• चरिष्यमाणः: wandering / moving about
• चरिष्यमाणः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त, परस्मैपदी), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इन्द्रोतम्: Indrota (proper name)
• इन्द्रोतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रोत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शौनकम्: of the Śaunaka lineage / descendant of Śaunaka
• शौनकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• संशितव्रतम्: one whose vow is sharpened/firm; of strict vows
• संशितव्रतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशितव्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Janamejaya
• Indrota (sage)
• Shaunaka lineage
• forest (vana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage frames moral storytelling (itihāsa) as a means to strengthen dharma, and it highlights that wrongdoing leads to inner burning and suffering, prompting a seeker to approach a disciplined sage for guidance and possible atonement.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma introduces a dharma-enhancing story: King Janamejaya, afflicted by the results of sinful actions and roaming in the forest, goes to the vow-observant sage Indrota of the Shaunaka lineage.