Shloka 82

Devanagari script

पृथिवीनभसी चोभे विश्रुते विश्वतोमुखे । तयो: संधारणार्थ हि मामधोक्षजमञज्जसा,(“अधः का अर्थ है पृथ्वी, “अक्ष' का अर्थ है आकाश और “ज' का अर्थ है इनको धारण करनेवाला) पृथ्वी और आकाश दोनों सर्वतोमुखी एवं प्रसिद्ध हैं। उनको अनायास ही धारण करनेके कारण लोग मुझे “अधोक्षज' कहते हैं

Transliteration

pṛthivīnabhasī cobhe viśrute viśvatomukhe | tayoḥ saṃdhāraṇārthaṃ hi mām adhokṣajam añjasā ||

Translation

แผ่นดินและท้องฟ้า—ทั้งสองเป็นที่เลื่องลือและแผ่หน้าไปทุกทิศ เราทรงค้ำจุนทั้งคู่อย่างไม่ต้องฝืนแรง เพราะเหตุนั้น (อธะ=แผ่นดิน, อักษะ=ท้องฟ้า, ชะ=ผู้ทรงไว้) ชนทั้งหลายจึงเรียกเราว่า “อโธกษชะ”

Word by Word

पृथिवीthe earth

नभसीthe two skies / heaven and sky (dual)

चand

उभेboth (of them)

विश्रुतेwell-known, renowned

विश्वतःon all sides, everywhere

मुखेhaving faces (i.e., facing) in all directions

तयोःof those two

संधारणार्थम्for the purpose of supporting/holding together

हिindeed, for

माम्me

अधोक्षजम्Adhokṣaja (name/epithet of the Lord)

अञ्जसाeasily, straightforwardly, without effort

Speaker

तामिन्द्र उवाच गच्छ नहुषस्त्वया वाच्योथ<पूर्वेण मामृषियुक्तेन यानेन त्वमधिरूढ

Characters & Entities

Pṛthivī (Earth)

Nabhas (Sky)

Adhokṣaja (epithet of Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that genuine greatness lies in sustaining dharma and the world’s stability. The epithet “Adhokṣaja” highlights a ruler’s or divine being’s true measure: the capacity to uphold and protect, not merely to command.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker explains the significance of the name “Adhokṣaja” by linking it to the cosmic function of supporting earth and sky. The statement serves as a theological-ethical clarification within the Shānti Parva’s reflective discourse on order, duty, and rightful power.