Shloka 7

Ajagara-vrata (The ‘Python’ Discipline): Prahrāda Questions a Wandering Sage

Devanagari script

अयं वै जन्मना विप्र: सुहृत्‌ तस्य महात्मन: । सम्प्रेषितश्न॒ तेनायं काश्यपेन ममान्तिकम्‌

Transliteration

ayaṃ vai janmanā vipraḥ suhṛt tasya mahātmanaḥ | sampreṣitaś ca tenāyaṃ kāśyapena mamāntikam ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు పలికెను—(రాజు మనసులోనే అనుకున్నాడు) ‘ఇతడు జన్మమాత్రాన బ్రాహ్మణుడు; కానీ ఆ మహాత్మునికి హితైషి. ఆ కాశ్యపుడే ఇతడిని నా వద్దకు పంపాడు; కాబట్టి నేను తప్పక అతనికి ప్రియమైన కార్యాన్ని నెరవేర్చుతాను।’

Word by Word

• अयम्: this (man)
• अयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• जन्मना: by birth
• जन्मना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• विप्रः: a brahmin
• विप्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुहृत्: friend, well-wisher
• सुहृत्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तस्य: of him
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• सम्प्रेषितः: sent, dispatched
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-इष्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Passive (participial)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अयम्: this (man)
• अयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• काश्यपेन: by Kāśyapa
• काश्यपेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्यप
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• मम: of me, my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• अन्तिकम्: near (to), presence
• अन्तिकम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तिक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Kāśyapa
• mahātmā (unnamed great-souled person)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts mere birth-status (janmanā vipraḥ) with genuine ethical relationship and trust (suhṛt). It implies that moral obligation and right action arise from loyalty, goodwill, and dharmic responsibility rather than from social label alone.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma identifies a messenger/visitor as a brahmin by birth and notes that he has been dispatched by Kāśyapa. Recognizing Kāśyapa’s goodwill and the relationship involved, Bhīṣma resolves to carry out what is dear to the sender.