Shloka 38

Bhīṣma’s Śara-śayyā Stuti to Vāsudeva and Yogic Preparation for Dehotsarga

Body-Relinquishment

Devanagari script

यं वै विश्वस्य कर्तारें जगतस्तस्थुषां पतिम्‌ | वदन्ति जगतोड<थध्यक्षमक्षरं परमं पदम्‌

Transliteration

yaṃ vai viśvasya kartāraṃ jagatas tasthuṣāṃ patim | vadanti jagato 'dhyakṣam akṣaraṃ paramaṃ padam ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు పలికెను—ఆయననే వారు సమస్త విశ్వ కర్త, చరాచర జగత్తుకు అధిపతి, జగత్తు యొక్క అధిక్షకుడు, అక్షర తత్త్వం, పరమ పదం అని ప్రకటిస్తారు.

Word by Word

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• विश्वस्य: of the universe
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: विश्व
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• कर्तारम्: creator/maker
• कर्तारम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• जगतः: of the world
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• तस्थुषाम्: of those that stand (the stationary beings)
• Type: Participle
• Root: स्था
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• पतिम्: lord/master
• पतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वदन्ति: they say/call
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद्
• Form: Present (Lat), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• जगतः: of the world
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• अध्यक्षम्: overseer/superintendent
• अध्यक्षम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्यक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अक्षरम्: imperishable
• अक्षरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective/Noun
• Root: अक्षर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पदम्: state/abode/goal
• पदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Īśvara/Brahman (the imperishable supreme principle)
• jagat (the world/universe)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse identifies the highest reality as the imperishable supreme abode—both the creator and sovereign of all beings, moving and unmoving—emphasizing a single ultimate principle that grounds cosmic order and dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and higher knowledge; here he points to the supreme Lord/Brahman as the world’s overseer and final refuge, framing ethical life within a metaphysical source and goal.