Shloka 28

त॑ प्रणम्य महात्मानं सुखासीनं महर्षय: । पप्रच्छुर्विनयोपेता नै:श्रेयसमिदं परम्‌,पहलेकी बात है, प्रजापति दक्ष, भरद्वाज, गौतम, भृगुनन्दन शुक्र, वसिष्ठ, कश्यप, विश्वामित्र और अत्रि आदि महर्षि अपने कर्मोद्वारा समस्त मार्गोमें भटकते-भटकते जब बहुत थक गये, तब एकत्रित हो आपसमें जिज्ञासा करते हुए परम वृद्ध अंगिरा मुनिको आगे करके ब्रह्मलोकमें गये और वहाँ सुखपूर्वक बैठे हुए पापरहित महात्मा ब्रह्माजीका दर्शन करके उन महर्षि ब्राह्मणोंने विनयपूर्वक उन्हें प्रणाम किया। फिर तुम्हारी ही तरह अपने परम कल्याणके विषयमें पूछा--

taṁ praṇamya mahātmānaṁ sukhāsīnaṁ maharṣayaḥ | papracchur vinayopetā naiḥśreyasam idaṁ param ||

ครั้นเหล่ามหาฤๅษีได้กราบนอบน้อมมหาตมะผู้ประทับอย่างผาสุกแล้ว ด้วยความอ่อนน้อม จึงทูลถามถึง “ไนหฺศฺเรยส” อันประเสริฐยิ่ง—หนทางสู่ความเกษมสูงสุด

तंhim
तं:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
प्रणम्यhaving bowed (to)
प्रणम्य:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-नम्
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)
महात्मानंthe great-souled one
महात्मानं:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमहात्मन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
सुखासीनंseated comfortably
सुखासीनं:
TypeAdjective
Rootसुखासीन
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
महर्षयःthe great sages
महर्षयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहर्षि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
पप्रच्छुःasked
पप्रच्छुः:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-प्रच्छ्
Formलिट् (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Third, Plural
विनय-उपेताःendowed with humility
विनय-उपेताः:
TypeAdjective
Rootविनयोपेत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural, क्त (past passive participle) from उप-इ
नैःश्रेयसम्the highest good, final beatitude
नैःश्रेयसम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनैःश्रेयस
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
इदंthis
इदं:
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
परम्supreme
परम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootपर
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular

वायुदेव उवाच

V
Vāyudeva (speaker)
M
Mahārṣis (sages)
M
Mahātmā (the great-souled one being addressed, contextually Brahmā in the accompanying narrative)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the proper approach to spiritual knowledge: humility (vinaya) and reverence (praṇāma) precede inquiry into naiḥśreyasa—the highest good. Ethically, it implies that sincere seeking, disciplined conduct, and respect for wisdom are prerequisites for guidance toward liberation.

A group of great sages, seeing a revered great-souled being seated peacefully, first bow to him and then ask about the supreme good. In the broader frame (as reflected in the accompanying prose), the sages—tired of many paths—approach Brahmā to ask what leads to ultimate welfare.